H.R. 3838 — Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026

This section authorizes appropriations for FY2026 for procurement for the Army, the Navy and Marine Corps, the Air Force and Space Force, and Defense-wide activities, as specified in the funding table in section 4101.

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Army, subject to the multiyear contracting requirements of 10 U.S.C. 3501 (i.e., findings of cost savings or industrial base stability, stable needs, funding expectations, stable design, realistic estimates, and national security promotion), to enter into one or more multiyear contracts, beginning with the FY2027 program year, for the procurement of UH-60 Blackhawk aircraft. The section further (1) conditions any U.S. payment obligations under such contracts for fiscal years after FY2027 on the availability of appropriations and (2) authorizes the Secretary to enter into associated advance procurement contracts, beginning in FY2026, including for economic order quantities of materials and equipment when cost savings are achievable.

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Army to enter into contracts, in advance of full-rate production, for procurement of future long-range assault aircraft (FLRAA)—tiltrotor aircraft intended to replace UH-60 Black Hawks—as part of an accelerated low-rate early production effort. The section directs the Secretary to pursue objectives of expediting operational capability delivery to the warfighter, maintaining production momentum and learning continuity, stabilizing the specialized workforce and industrial base (including critical suppliers and facilities in Texas, Kansas, and other states), and mitigating cost escalation risks. In executing this authority, the Secretary must prioritize program continuity, cost-efficiency, and workforce retention; incorporate lessons learned from test articles; and maintain design flexibility for future upgrades via modular open systems architecture and digital backbone. Finally, the section requires a briefing to the congressional defense committees within 180 days of enactment on the implementation plan and timeline, industrial base readiness and supply chain coordination, and estimated long-term cost savings and operational benefits.

This section prohibits the Secretary of the Army from reducing, withdrawing, or otherwise degrading the sealift capability (i.e., vessels, associated equipment, and dedicated port infrastructure) of the Army Prepositioned Stocks-Afloat program (APS-3)—which maintains prepositioned Army equipment and supplies on sealift ships for rapid deployment in contingencies—until the Secretary submits to the congressional Armed Services Committees a report containing (1) a comprehensive plan for the Army Prepositioned Stocks program through FY2030, including modernization, sustainment, and capacity objectives for all subprograms and capabilities such as APS-3; (2) estimated costs, schedule projections, and risk assessments for executing the plan; (3) a detailed description of any alternative solution or capability to succeed or supplement APS-3, including operational concepts, acquisition strategy, and integration with joint and coalition logistics; (4) an assessment of risks, costs, and benefits of deactivating or reducing APS-3 capabilities; and (5) any required legislative or regulatory authorities to implement the plan or alternatives.

This section limits the obligation or expenditure of fiscal year 2026 funds authorized for the Army's Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) strategy to 50% until the Secretary of the Army submits to the congressional defense committees a report containing (1) detailed funding plans for current and new procurements for the Army's tactical network, along with a cost and capability assessment of current and proposed solutions; (2) testing and fielding plans for any new procurements, including explanations of how they meet resiliency requirements under section 168 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116-92) and utilize National Security Agency (NSA) High Assurance certified encryption and decryption; and (3) plans to integrate existing programs of record with new programs and ensure interoperability with fielded systems and foreign partners' systems.

This section directs the Secretary of the Army to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than December 1, 2025, a report on the Army's plan to require and accelerate fielding of Link 16 military tactical data networking capabilities Army-wide, including on UH-60M and CH-47F aircraft, (1) for command and control and fires; (2) to ensure maximum interoperability, lethality, and survivability of combat and combat support elements supporting the Joint Force within highly contested airborne combat environments in the area of responsibility of the United States Indo-Pacific Command; and (3) to meet joint all-domain command and control goals worldwide.

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to enter into one or more contracts for the procurement of not more than two Ford-class aircraft carriers (i.e., next-generation nuclear-powered supercarriers). It further authorizes associated contracts for advance procurement, advance construction, and economic order quantity purchases of materials and equipment; permits incremental funding for contract payments; and requires such contracts to condition U.S. payment obligations on the availability of appropriations while limiting federal termination liability to amounts obligated at the time of termination.

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Navy, beginning in FY2026, to enter into a contract for the procurement of up to five Columbia-class submarines (i.e., next-generation ballistic missile submarines replacing the Ohio class) using incremental funding. The contract must provide that payments are subject to the availability of appropriations and that the federal government's termination liability is limited to the amount of funding obligated to the contract at the time of termination.

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to enter into one or more contracts, prior to ship authorization, for the advance procurement of covered components for Virginia-class submarines (i.e., the Navy's nuclear-powered fast attack submarines), including procurement in economic order quantities when cost savings are achievable. Such contracts must (1) condition any U.S. payment obligation on the availability of appropriations and (2) limit the federal government's total termination liability to the amount of funding obligated at the time of termination (thus, enabling continuous production while minimizing financial risk). The section further requires a separate budget display in Department of Defense budget justification materials for FY2027 and each fiscal year thereafter, identifying requested amounts by specific program, project, or activity within the Virginia-class submarine program. Covered components include (1) propulsion plant equipment; (2) diesel systems and associated components; (3) castings, forgings, and tank structures; (4) air flasks; (5) payload tubes; (6) major valves and associated components; (7) hatches; (8) steering and drive components; (9) major pumps and motors; (10) snorkel mast and components; (11) torpedo tubes; and (12) atmosphere control equipment.

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to enter into an incrementally funded contract for the construction of one Guided Missile Destroyer (DDG) using amounts authorized for Navy shipbuilding and conversion in FY2026. The contract must condition any U.S. payment obligation on the availability of appropriations and limit government termination liability to the amount of funds obligated at the time of termination.

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Navy, subject to the general multiyear procurement criteria of 10 U.S.C. §3501 (i.e., significant cost savings or industrial base stability, stable needs, funding expectations, and related conditions), to enter into one or more multiyear contracts, beginning with the FY2026 program year, for Yard, Repair, Berthing, and Messing Barges and associated materials. The section also authorizes advance procurement contracts, beginning in FY2026, for such barges, including economic order quantities of materials and equipment when cost savings are achievable. Any multiyear contract entered into under this section is subject to the availability of appropriations and limits the federal government's termination liability to the amount of funds obligated to the contract at the time of termination.

This section directs the Secretary of the Navy, after construction of the lead ship in the Landing Ship Medium program commences, to seek an agreement with a vessel construction manager to enter into contracts for up to eight additional landing ships. The additional ships must be nondevelopmental items using the same design as the lead ship—or a design derived from it—where the lead ship is the first procured as a commercial or nondevelopmental item under section 128(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.

This section prohibits the Secretary of the Navy from entering into a contract or agreement—including for priced or unpriced options—for the construction, advance procurement, or long-lead materials of the lead ship of the Modular Attack Surface Craft program until the Secretary certifies to the congressional defense committees that the ship will be designed and constructed primarily for autonomous operation.

This section requires the Secretary of the Navy to include one or more dedicated line items for spare parts and repair parts for amphibious warfare ships (i.e., Navy ships designed to transport and land troops, equipment, and vehicles ashore, as defined in 10 U.S.C. 8062(h)) in the budget justification materials submitted to Congress for the Department of Defense budget for FY2027 and each fiscal year thereafter, specifically in the "other procurement, Navy" budget display (as submitted with the President's budget under 31 U.S.C. 1105(a)).

This section directs the Secretary of the Navy to develop and implement, not later than 180 days after enactment, a strategy for investing in and supporting the maritime industrial base to address cost and schedule challenges for surface and submarine shipbuilding programs. The strategy must (1) focus on ensuring reliable supplies of sequence-critical components for those programs and (2) include measures to identify key performance indicators for measuring return on investment, centralize data collection for maritime industrial base performance analysis, and apply artificial intelligence to monitor and predict supply chain challenges (e.g., disruptions, material shortages, delivery delays). Not later than 210 days after enactment, the Secretary must submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the strategy that includes a summary, implementation timelines, and an explanation of how it addresses shipbuilding cost and schedule challenges.

This section modifies requirements for recapitalization of Navy Reserve tactical fighter aircraft by revising the definition of covered F-18 aircraft to mean either (1) the eight F/A-18E/F Super Hornets procured for the Navy in FY2023 or (2) in lieu thereof, any Block II or newer F/A-18E/F tactical fighter aircraft with at least 2,000 flight hours of remaining service-life airframe flight time prior to a required high flight-hour inspection and Service Life Modification process, that is included in the Naval Aviation Master Aviation Plan (i.e., the Navy's long-term aviation strategy) and designated for the Navy Reserve. This section also directs the Secretary of the Navy to ensure, in conjunction with recapitalization activities, that the Naval Aviation Master Aviation Plan remains up-to-date and relevant with respect to Navy Reserve aviation units.

This section directs the Secretary of the Navy, not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act, to submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the Navy's strategy for procuring at least two cable laying and repair ships to replace the USNS Zeus. The report must include (1) a description of planned capabilities for the next-generation ships to meet Navy requirements, including feasibility of organic capabilities; (2) a projected procurement timeline, including expected operational date; and (3) plans to meet service requirements in the interim. The report shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.

This section revises the minimum total aircraft inventory requirement for Air Force air refueling tanker aircraft to (1) not less than 466 aircraft through September 30, 2026 (from not less than 466 aircraft previously, with no specified end date); (2) not less than 485 aircraft from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027; and (3) not less than 504 aircraft from October 1, 2027, onward—and updates a cross-reference to the applicable minimum level. It further prohibits the obligation or expenditure of FY2026 funds to reduce the number of KC-135 aircraft designated as primary mission aircraft inventory within Air Force reserve components.

This section extends to 2026 (from 2025) two requirements relating to C-130 aircraft imposed by the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act, as amended: (1) the minimum inventory requirement, and (2) the prohibition on reducing the number of C-130 aircraft assigned to the National Guard. (Thus, the Department of Defense must maintain the specified C-130 inventory level and National Guard assignments through the end of 2026.)

This section modifies the minimum primary mission aircraft inventory requirement for A-10 aircraft by requiring retention of 96 primary mission aircraft inventory aircraft until October 1, 2026 (previously, until 90 days after submission of a specified report to congressional defense committees). The section prohibits the Secretary of the Air Force, during the period beginning October 1, 2025, and ending September 30, 2026, from (1) retiring any A-10 aircraft; (2) reducing funding for A-10 unit personnel or weapon system sustainment activities in a manner presuming future divestment; (3) placing A-10 aircraft in excess status awaiting disposition (commonly known as "XJ" status); or (4) decreasing the total A-10 aircraft inventory below 162 aircraft. This prohibition does not apply to individual A-10 aircraft determined on a case-by-case basis to be no longer mission capable and uneconomical to repair due to accidents, mishaps, or material degradation. (Thus, the Air Force must maintain full operational and sustainment posture for the A-10 fleet through FY2026.) The section requires the Secretary of the Air Force to provide the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, by March 31, 2026, with a briefing on the A-10 aircraft inventory status disaggregated by type (e.g., combat coded, primary mission, backup, attrition reserve), tail number, and location; planned divestment dates and unit-specific plans prior to FY2029; aircraft transition plans to minimize personnel and scheduling impacts; and other specified details.

This section directs the Secretary of the Air Force to preserve each KC-10 aircraft (i.e., aerial refueling tanker) retired while the Air Force's total inventory of air refueling aircraft is less than 504, by (1) storing it in flyable condition; (2) ensuring it can be returned to service as an air refueling aircraft, including retention of the air refueling boom; and (3) prohibiting use of its parts for other aircraft absent specific authorization by the Secretary of Defense upon Air Force request. Preserved aircraft may be disposed of in accordance with chapter 5 of title 40, United States Code.

This section prohibits the obligation or expenditure of FY2026 funds authorized by this Act or otherwise made available for the Department of Defense (1) to terminate the mid-tier acquisition rapid prototype contract for the E–7A Wedgetail aircraft; or (2) to terminate the operations of, or to prepare to terminate the operations of, a production line for the E–7A Wedgetail aircraft. (The E–7A Wedgetail is an airborne early warning and control aircraft that the Air Force is acquiring to replace the E–3 Sentry fleet.)

This section limits the Secretary of Defense from accepting or taking delivery of more than 183 covered KC-46 aircraft (i.e., new production Air Force aerial refueling tankers fully funded by the United States) until the Secretary certifies to the congressional defense committees that a plan of corrective actions and milestones to resolve all Category 1 deficiencies (i.e., the most critical issues affecting safety or mission capability) has been developed and is being implemented, and submits the plan. The plan must include (1) an estimate of total funds required, (2) realistic event-driven schedules, and (3) a schedule risk assessment to an 80% confidence level; it must be submitted unclassified but may include a classified annex.

This section directs the Secretary of the Air Force to (1) conduct an analysis of alternatives for recapitalizing the executive airlift aircraft fleet (i.e., specialized military aircraft used to transport senior executive branch officials)—seeking solutions with range comparable to commercial passenger aircraft—initiating the analysis within 30 days of enactment, completing it by April 1, 2026, and submitting a report on the results to the congressional Armed Services Committees within 60 days thereafter; and (2) establish, by December 1, 2025, standards for prioritizing access to such aircraft among federal government users. The section further requires the Secretary of Defense to assign, by January 1, 2026, a qualified Senior Executive Service career appointee to coordinate efficient tasking of executive airlift aircraft and compliance with related rules, including the new prioritization standards.

This section directs the Secretary of the Air Force to submit to the congressional defense committees, by March 1, 2027, a report on the F–47 advanced fighter aircraft program. The report must include (1) a description of the program, including system requirements, employment concepts, and projected costs, schedule, and funding requirements over FY2028 through FY2034; (2) the program's acquisition strategy of record, including consideration of a middle tier acquisition pathway or major capability acquisition pathway; and (3) a proposed fielding strategy addressing estimated force structure requirements, strategic basing considerations, military construction requirements, personnel training requirements, and an integrated total force concept with Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve integration. The report must be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.

This section extends the prohibition on certain reductions to B-1 bomber aircraft squadrons through September 30, 2030 (from September 30, 2026).

This section directs the Secretary of the Air Force, in consultation with the Director of the Air National Guard, to develop a plan for recapitalization and modernization of the Air National Guard fighter fleet, including each of its 25 fighter aircraft squadrons. The plan must include (1) measures to sustain and recapitalize the fleet; (2) a timeline disaggregated by squadron and fiscal year; (3) estimated costs; and (4) the expected impact on operational and personnel readiness. The Secretary must submit a report on the plan to the House Armed Services Committee not later than July 1, 2026.

This section revises the prohibition in Section 164(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 on Department of Defense (DOD) operation, procurement (including contract renewals), and contracting related to covered light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology from a covered foreign country. Specifically, it prohibits DOD from (1) procuring or operating LiDAR manufactured in such a country or by a domiciled entity, using software developed there, or employing network connectivity or data storage administered there; or (2) procuring or operating systems incorporating such LiDAR; or (3) entering into or renewing contracts with entities operating such LiDAR to perform DOD work.

This section requires the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct an annual review of the F-35 aircraft program, beginning not later than March 1, 2026, and submit a report on the review to the congressional defense committees until all development, production, and fielding activities for the program cease. Each review and report must assess (1) the cost, scope, and schedule of the program and its subprograms; (2) the status of Department of Defense efforts to modernize the F-35 aircraft; and (3) other matters the Comptroller General determines appropriate.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that researching, producing, and procuring defense articles for the AUKUS partnership (i.e., the enhanced trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States announced in September 2021) from within the United States boosts local economies and improves national security by enhancing domestic defense production capabilities, and that the Secretary of Defense should promote and prioritize domestic manufacturing, supply chains, and research for such articles.

This section prohibits the Department of Defense from obligating or expending appropriated funds to procure non-tactical electric vehicles, advanced-biofuel-powered vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, or associated components or spare parts that do not comply with Federal Acquisition Regulation subpart 22.15 (or successor regulations). (Subpart 22.15 prohibits acquisition of products produced by forced or indentured child labor.)

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than March 15, 2026, a report on the development and integration of next-generation self-sealing fuel cells (referred to as NexGen fuel cells) into the rotorcraft fleets of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The report must include (1) an assessment of negative effects on readiness from current fuel cells based on World War II-era technology, (2) identification of readiness, fiscal, and other benefits of NexGen fuel cells, (3) plans or concepts for incorporating NexGen fuel cells into H-60 fleets, and (4) other relevant matters determined by the Secretary.

This section authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 2026 for Department of Defense research, development, test, and evaluation, as specified in the funding table in section 4201.

This section (1) increases by $7 million the amount authorized to be appropriated for Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Army—Next-Generation Combat Vehicle advanced technology (line 052)—specifically for virtual engineering for Army readiness and sustainment; and (2) decreases by $7 million the amount authorized for Operation and Maintenance, Army—land forces systems readiness (line 080).

This section increases by $4,200,000 the amount authorized to be appropriated for Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Army (Ground Advanced Technology, line 043), for Humanitarian Airborne Mobile Infrastructure Capability, as specified in the funding table in section 4201. It offsets this increase with a $4,200,000 reduction in the amount authorized for Operation and Maintenance, Army (Land Forces Systems Readiness, line 080), as specified in the funding table in section 4301.

This section (1) increases by $10 million the amount authorized to be appropriated for Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Army, for Ground Advanced Technology (line 043), specifically for Fuel Cell Multi-Modular Use utilizing hydrogen; and (2) reduces by $10 million the amount authorized to be appropriated for Operation and Maintenance, Army, for Land Forces Systems Readiness (line 080).

This section (1) increases by $3 million the amount authorized to be appropriated for research, development, test, and evaluation, Defense-wide, Special Operations Command intelligence systems development (line 290, program element 1160405BB), with the increase available for advanced Group 1 small unmanned aerial systems; and (2) reduces by $3 million the amount authorized to be appropriated for operation and maintenance, Army, maneuver units (line 010).

This section increases by $5 million the amount authorized to be appropriated for research, development, test, and evaluation, Defense-wide, for the National Defense Education Program (a Department of Defense initiative to promote STEM education), with the additional funds to strengthen and expand STEM education opportunities and workforce initiatives targeted at military students. The section offsets this increase with a $5 million reduction in the amount authorized for operation and maintenance, Defense-wide, for Washington Headquarters Services.

This section increases by $6 million the amount authorized to be appropriated for Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Defense-Wide (line 75), for development, test, and integration of adaptable radar capabilities. It offsets this increase by decreasing by $6 million the amount authorized to be appropriated for Operation and Maintenance, Army (additional activities, line 140).

This section increases by $7.5 million the amount authorized to be appropriated for research, development, test, and evaluation, Defense-wide, for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict (SO/LIC) advanced development for drone development (as specified in the funding table in section 4201). It offsets this increase by reducing by $7.5 million the amount authorized for Army servicewide transportation, line 390, program decrease (as specified in the funding table in section 4301).

This section (1) increases by $50 million the amount authorized to be appropriated for Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Navy, for Future Naval Capabilities Applied Research (line 012), for development of a quantum communications corridor linking certain Department of Defense installations, national laboratories, and universities conducting Department of Defense research; and (2) reduces by $50 million the amount authorized for Operation and Maintenance, Army, for Force Readiness Operations Support (line 070).

This section (1) increases by $5 million the amount authorized to be appropriated for Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Manufacturing Technology Program (line 28), for Smart Susceptor Technology (a DoD-funded initiative to develop manufacturing technologies for advanced composites); and (2) reduces by $5 million the amount authorized for Operations and Maintenance, Defense-Wide, Washington Headquarters Services (line 530).

This section modifies DoD prize authority under 10 U.S.C. §4025 for achievements in basic, advanced, and applied research, technology development, and prototypes with potential military applications or improved acquisition practices by (1) vesting authority directly in the Secretary of Defense, eliminating the prior requirement to act through the Under Secretaries of Defense for Research and Engineering and Acquisition and Sustainment and the military departments' service acquisition executives; (2) replacing prize limitations to require Secretary of Defense approval only for prizes exceeding $20 million in fair market value (previously, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering approval required for prizes over $10 million in fair market value, cash prizes over $1 million, or nonmonetary prizes over $10,000); and (3) revising the congressional notification threshold for certain procurement contracts and agreements to the amount specified in the new prize limitation (from $10 million).

This section expands funding mechanisms for defense laboratories—allowing directors to use not less than 2% and not more than 4% of available funds for innovative basic and applied research, technology transition programs, workforce development, and repair or minor military construction of infrastructure—to also cover test organizations. (Thus, science and technology executives may now promote cross-laboratory or test organization collaboration, and test organization directors may charge customer activities a fixed fee of up to 4% of costs.)

This section modifies the authority for acquisition, construction, or furnishing of research, developmental, or test facilities and equipment to contractors by expanding its applicability from contracts of a military department to "covered contracts" (i.e., military department contracts or contracts for jointly funded projects). It establishes jointly funded projects for facilities and equipment supporting multiple contracts or programs across military departments, other federal agencies outside the Department of Defense, or eligible non-Federal entities (e.g., private companies, academic institutions, or non-profits, if determined to be in the national security interest), requiring written agreements addressing (1) cost sharing proportions, (2) access allocation and prioritization, (3) management and oversight (including a lead agency), (4) ownership and intellectual property rights, and (5) dispute resolution; and directs the Secretary of Defense to issue implementing regulations with evaluation criteria, standardized templates, and transparency procedures. It further requires the Secretary of Defense to issue or revise regulations within 180 days of enactment clarifying that the authority applies to contracts funded by research, development, test, and evaluation appropriations (budget activities 1 through 3) and operation and maintenance funds used for such activities.

This section revises policies for management and certification of the Link 16 military tactical data link network (i.e., a secure communications system enabling real-time data exchange among military platforms), as established by section 228(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (10 U.S.C. 4571 note), by—(1) expanding applicable airspace in paragraph (1)(A) from the Nevada Test and Training Range, Restricted Area 2508, Warning Areas 151/470 and 386, and the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex to all military special use airspace including prohibited areas, restricted areas, warning areas, and military operational areas; (2) in paragraph (2), inserting "regular" before "training" and adding a requirement that approval processes presume approval of Link 16 operations unless denial is accompanied by substantiated evidence of safety compromise due to electromagnetic interference (Thus, easing restrictions on Link 16 use during training and exercises.); and (3) in paragraph (5), inserting "regular" before "training."

This section amends Section 215 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 10 U.S.C. 4841 note)—which supports research and development of bioindustrial manufacturing processes under the Manufacturing Technology Program (10 U.S.C. 4841)—by (1) redesignating subsections (d) through (f) as subsections (e) through (g), respectively, and (2) inserting a new subsection (d). New subsection (d) specifies that the activities described in subsection (c), including the design and construction of facilities, are applicable to funds authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Defense for research, development, test, and evaluation.

This section extends authority for the temporary assignment of private-sector personnel with critical research and development expertise to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)—to support advanced technology projects for national defense—through September 30, 2030 (from September 30, 2025). It also makes a technical amendment to subsection (f)(2) by updating a cross-reference from “section 2302” to “section 3014”.

This section establishes post-employment restrictions, as a condition of participation, prohibiting principal investigators of covered defense research projects and employees of Department of Defense (DoD) laboratories from seeking or accepting employment or compensation from a foreign entity of concern (i.e., as defined in 42 USC 19221(a) and including entities on a specified DoD list) for three years after ceasing such role. (Covered defense research projects are those operated by an institution of higher education, funded in whole or part by DoD, and involving a critical or emerging technology as determined by the Secretary of Defense.) The section further (1) authorizes the Secretary to waive these restrictions for U.S. persons upon notice to the congressional defense committees at least 30 days in advance, including an unclassified justification and details on related DoD funds; (2) directs the Secretary, within 270 days of enactment, to establish a certification process under the security initiative established by section 1286 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (10 USC 4001 note) ensuring that non-compliant prior participants are ineligible for future covered project funding; and (3) requires the Secretary, within 270 days of enactment and annually thereafter, to publicly identify critical and emerging technologies among those for which DoD funds research. The restrictions apply to research beginning one year after enactment. (Thus, the provision supplements DoD's general R&D authority under 10 USC 4001 by mitigating risks of sensitive technology transfer to foreign adversaries.)

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense to award financial assistance, through a competitive merit-review process, to eligible U.S. institutions of higher education (i.e., those conducting Department of Defense-sponsored research), or consortia thereof, to establish and support at least one National Security and Defense Artificial Intelligence Institute focused on AI cross-cutting challenges or foundational science for national security and defense. Financial assistance, for an initial five-year period renewable once, may be used for curated secure data sets; AI testbeds; research, education, and workforce development activities; computing resources and technical assistance; outreach to broaden AI participation; and other activities determined by the Secretary. Institutes must partner with public and private entities (e.g., federal agencies, higher education including community colleges, nonprofits, federal labs, state/local/Tribal governments, and industry including startups and the Defense Industrial Base) to build innovation ecosystems translating research into national security applications; assistance is limited to U.S.-based recipients.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to issue publicly available policies and guidelines on the responsible development and deployment of biotechnology within the Department of Defense, to be developed by a designated senior civilian official serving as executive agent in consultation with the Under Secretaries of Defense for Research and Engineering and for Policy, as well as representatives from industry, academia, and civil society. The policies and guidelines must address (1) definitions of responsible biotechnology development and use; (2) an assessment of existing statutes, regulations, directives, manuals, or instructions limiting DoD's ability to provide such guidelines; (3) safe use under regulatory oversight; (4) informed consent for Armed Forces members participating in unapproved biotechnology development; (5) conditions for irreversible or heritable treatments; (6) environmental effects; (7) compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention; and (8) other relevant matters. Not later than one year after enactment, the Secretary must submit to the congressional defense committees an unclassified report (with a possible classified annex) on the policies and guidelines, including development methodologies, and make a public version available. During the two-year period beginning one year after enactment, the Secretary must provide annual briefings to the committees on implementation, including needed resources.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, not later than one year after enactment, to establish a training program on biotechnology and other critical and emerging technologies for members of the covered Armed Forces (i.e., Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force), civilian employees, and contractors whose duties include creating or deploying novel biotechnologies, analyzing or responding to biological threats, or planning, research and development, engineering, testing and evaluation, quality control, procurement, logistics, or cost estimating for biotechnology systems. The program must (1) be developed in consultation with Department leadership to align with mission needs and define essential skills; (2) cover at minimum fundamental biotechnology science, applications in defense and other sectors, integration with artificial intelligence and quantum computing, federal support mechanisms, ethical and legal aspects, risk mitigation, and future trends; (3) require annual participation by covered personnel with interactive elements from private, public, and nonprofit experts via institutions such as the National Defense University; (4) be updated annually with continuing education and refresher training; and (5) include performance measurements for participation and feedback. Additionally, the Secretary must submit to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, not later than six months after enactment, a report with a plan for the program. The section sunsets, along with the program, five years after establishment.

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments and heads of relevant Defense Agencies, to establish a biotechnology supply chain resiliency program to develop, scale, and transition biotechnology research from military service laboratories—including biotechnology-based chemicals, materials, fuels, and other products—relevant to Department of Defense missions that enhance defense supply chain resilience, sustainability, and responsiveness. Under the program, the Secretary may (1) assess supply chain vulnerabilities; (2) direct military service laboratories to conduct collaborative applied research, prototyping, and testing of biologically derived materials; upgrade or construct infrastructure; enter contracts, grants, or other transactions; and support workforce development; (3) collaborate across military departments and federal entities; (4) promote next-generation feedstocks and processes for local economic growth; (5) modernize infrastructure for rapid prototyping; and (6) establish performance metrics. The Secretary must prioritize technologies addressing supply chain vulnerabilities (e.g., field-enabled manufacturing of bio-cement, novel protective coatings), consult industry and academia, and support emerging biotechnologies via partnerships and transitions. (Thus, the program aims to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains and enhance military readiness through bioindustrials and biomanufacturing.) Not later than 90 days after commencing the program, the Secretary must submit to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees a plan for allocating appropriations; annual reports detailing activities, partnerships, infrastructure, performance, challenges, and recommendations are required thereafter until termination, in unclassified form with a possible classified annex. Program authority terminates 10 years after enactment unless the President determines prior to that date that continuation is necessary to meet national economic needs.

This section directs each Secretary of a military department, in coordination with the Under Secretaries of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and for Research and Engineering and the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, to complete within 180 days of enactment a comprehensive review of standards, guidance, and policies for digital engineering (i.e., use of digital tools such as digital twins and digital threads across program design, development, and testing stages) within the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force under that Secretary's jurisdiction. The review must assess consistency and interoperability of such standards, identify best practices, and recommend improvements. This section further directs each such Secretary to develop and implement, within 180 days after completing the review, a standard reference architecture—including frameworks for digital engineering tools across program lifecycles and data management standards—for each covered Armed Force, subject to review, approval, and certification by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (in coordination with the specified officials). It requires periodic reviews of each reference architecture at least every three years with modifications as needed, and directs the Under Secretary to recommend areas for further standardization across the covered Armed Forces.

This section directs the Director of the Test Resource Management Center (TRMC), in coordination with the Director of the Defense Innovation Unit, the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, and the chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force, to establish and maintain a digital test and evaluation environment for developmental and operational testing of warfighting capabilities. The environment must (1) incorporate commercially derived data management, analysis, and operations software tools; (2) enable real-time and iterative data collection, management, analysis, and feedback across system life cycles; (3) provide secure environments for operationally sensitive systems; and (4) use a modular open systems approach for vendor access and interoperability with multiple data sources, formats, and tools. In procuring software and covered hardware for the environment, the TRMC Director must use a software acquisition pathway under 10 U.S.C. §3603 (i.e., pathways for rapid development, integration, and delivery of software and covered hardware not treated as major defense acquisition programs). This section requires an appropriate official from a covered Armed Force (i.e., Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force) to submit a data management plan to the Directors of Operational Test and Evaluation and TRMC before conducting any test and evaluation event, which may be included in the event's Test and Evaluation Master Plan. The Directors must jointly develop standard requirements for such plans, including identification of data to be collected, post-test analysis methodologies, and other appropriate information. This section directs the Directors of the Defense Innovation Unit and TRMC, in coordination with the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, to carry out a pilot program through 2030 (five years after enactment) to apply commercial software and industry best practices to accelerate continuous integration, testing, advanced analysis, and data sharing for priority warfighting mission areas. The Directors must submit to the congressional defense committees (1) by 120 days after enactment, an interim report with an implementation plan; and (2) by 270 days after enactment, a progress report describing performance metrics, initial findings, and roadblocks to using commercial software and digital tools for accelerated testing.

This section establishes a program, subject to the availability of appropriations, to equip selected weapon system platforms with onboard near real-time end-to-end serial bus and radio frequency monitoring capabilities for continuous operational oversight, cybersecurity health, and resiliency, to be carried out by the Secretary of Defense in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and the chiefs of the Armed Forces. The program requires implementation in four phases: (1) within 90 days of enactment, select 3 to 5 weapon system platform fleets (prioritizing MH-60R and MQ-9 aircraft) and complete initial deployment of monitoring capabilities; (2) within one year of enactment, extend capabilities to complete fleets of selected platforms and complete initial data collection and analysis; (3) within one year of enactment and subject to appropriations, select an additional 3 to 5 fleets (prioritizing based on cybersecurity and readiness potential from program data) and complete initial deployment; and (4) within 18 months of enactment, complete a comprehensive evaluation of monitoring capabilities, including cybersecurity effectiveness, maintenance improvements, and scalability recommendations for Department-wide implementation. Each chief of an Armed Force with participating platforms must collect and provide data to the Secretary on cyber threat detection, maintenance efficiency, safety incidents, operational readiness, and interoperability; the Secretary must analyze such data for integration challenges, scalability, and resource-efficient expansion approaches. The Secretary may develop an artificial intelligence capability for up-to-date weapons inventory records and must include proposed funding for program expansion in FY2028 budget justification materials. Not later than 90 days after enactment and annually thereafter for five years, the Secretary must report to the congressional defense committees on program implementation plans, selected platforms, and data analysis.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to carry out a demonstration of a joint multi-domain kinetic and non-kinetic testing and training environment across military departments by interconnecting existing ranges and training sites in the western States to improve joint multi-domain training, testing, research, and development, using existing capabilities unless planning identifies gaps. The demonstration shall include (1) electromagnetic spectrum operations; (2) electromagnetic warfare; (3) operations blending kinetic and non-kinetic effects; (4) operations in the information environment (i.e., the aggregate of individuals, organizations, and systems that collect, process, disseminate, or act on information); (5) Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2); and (6) information warfare, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; offensive and defensive cyber operations; electromagnetic warfare; space operations; psychological operations; public affairs; and weather operations. The Secretary shall complete an initial demonstration interconnecting ranges or testing sites of at least two military departments within one year of enactment, subject to appropriations availability, and provide the congressional defense committees with a briefing within 180 days of enactment on a phased implementation plan (including the initial demonstration), its alignment with the 2020 Department of Defense Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority Strategy, and its support for high-periodicity training, testing, research, and development. This section terminates on September 30, 2028.

This section authorizes amounts appropriated for Department of Defense research, development, test, and evaluation to reimburse pay, allowances, and other expenses of reserve components of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard, when members or units provide support to such projects based on their availability, qualifications, experience, or education. The section clarifies that this authority does not permit deviations from established personnel and training procedures of reserve components or direct engagement of such components to conduct independent research, development, test, and evaluation projects.

This section prohibits the obligation or expenditure of funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for FY2026 for the Department of Defense to carry out research, development, test, evaluation, or training activities involving animals (1) in collaboration with a foreign country of concern or (2) at any facility located in, owned, or controlled by such a country, including entering into related contracts, agreements, or grants. The term "foreign country of concern" has the meaning given that term in section 9901 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (15 U.S.C. 4651).

This section prohibits the obligation or expenditure of funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for FY2026 to the Department of Defense (DoD) for (1) conducting gain-of-function research—defined as research reasonably anticipated to enhance a pathogen's pathogenicity or transmissibility in mammals—on any potential pandemic pathogen at any DoD-operated or DoD behalf facility; or (2) awarding contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or other financial assistance to any institution of higher education, nonprofit organization, private entity, or other research institute conducting such research. The section authorizes the Secretary of Defense to waive the prohibition on a case-by-case basis for an individual research project, grant, contract, or agreement if determined to be in the national interest, with notice to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees at least 30 days prior to initiation or award. It defines potential pandemic pathogen as a pathogen that, due to gain-of-function research, is likely more transmissible or virulent in humans or poses a severe threat to public health, public health systems, or national security.

This section limits the obligation or expenditure of FY2026 funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Defense for travel expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to not more than 75% until the Secretary of Defense (1) establishes the Joint Energetics Transition Office required under 10 U.S.C. §148—which coordinates DoD investments across the supply chain for energetic materials (i.e., explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics) used in munitions, weapons, and propulsion systems—and (2) submits to the congressional defense committees the reports required under subsections (b) and (c) of section 241 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118-31). The Secretary may waive this limitation upon determining that extenuating circumstances justify it and providing the congressional defense committees a briefing on the reasons for the determination.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, when entering into partnerships to support Department of Defense research, development, test, and evaluation activities, to prioritize institutions of higher education conducting research on hypersonics, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence. The section also requires the Secretary to submit to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act, a report identifying any such ongoing partnerships.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to carry out activities supporting the research, development, implementation, and oversight of unattended robotic process automation (RPA) within the Department of Defense (DoD). Such activities include (1) allocating funding for research and development initiatives to enhance RPA capabilities in combat, intelligence analysis, and defense infrastructure management; (2) developing and implementing a framework to expand RPA technologies across mission-critical operations, logistics, and administrative processes, prioritizing interoperability, cybersecurity protections, and real-time adaptability; (3) implementing policies and processes to ensure RPA deployments adhere to cybersecurity and defense data protection regulations; and (4) establishing a task force to oversee RPA implementation, effectiveness, and long-term integration. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment, the Secretary must submit to the congressional defense committees a report on progress that includes (1) performance metrics, (2) an analysis of cost-effectiveness, and (3) an assessment of risks associated with RPA expansion.

This section directs the Secretary of the Navy to establish, not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act, a one-year pilot program to evaluate commercially available next-generation Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) technologies to address obsolescence in legacy HUMS on Marine Corps rotary-wing and tiltrotor aircraft. The program must assess whether such technologies (1) mitigate obsolescence risks, (2) enhance aircraft operational readiness, availability, and sustainment, and (3) provide advanced predictive analytics to reduce maintenance burden and lifecycle costs; requires coordination with Marine Corps aviation stakeholders; and directs a report to the congressional defense committees not later than 90 days after completion summarizing results and recommendations for broader fleet adoption. The section increases by $5 million the amount authorized for Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Defense-wide, Management Support, Aviation Safety (PE 0606301D8Z), offset by a $5 million reduction in authorization for Army procurement of IAMD Battle Command System, Line 116.

This section establishes a one-year pilot program, to be carried out by the Secretary of the Army not later than 180 days after enactment, to evaluate commercially available next-generation Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) technologies in addressing obsolescence in legacy HUMS on Army rotary-wing aircraft. The program must assess whether such technologies (1) mitigate obsolescence risks, (2) enhance operational readiness, (3) enable predictive maintenance to reduce costs and increase aircraft availability, and (4) extend platform lifespans; prioritize platforms with results applicable to other military branches; and be coordinated with the Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team and Program Executive Office Aviation. Not later than 90 days after completion, the Secretary must report to the Armed Services Committees on the technologies' effectiveness and recommendations for broader adoption. The section increases authorization of appropriations by $5 million for Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Defense-wide (PE 0606301D8Z), offset by a $5 million reduction for Army procurement of the IAMD Battle Command System.

This section establishes an Initiative within the Department of Defense, led by a designated office, to prepare the Department to harness advanced artificial intelligence (AI), assess its national security implications, and analyze strategic competition with the People's Republic of China (PRC) in advanced AI development. The lead office must (1) review industry documents on advanced AI; (2) engage AI developers and researchers to inform military planning and adoption; (3) identify DoD adoption strategies, including a plan assessing workforce preparation, impacted processes, policy changes, AI infrastructure needs (e.g., AI factories, data foundries, edge infrastructure), and resourcing recommendations; (4) examine advanced AI implications for defense areas such as chemical/biological/nuclear capabilities, cyber, autonomy, deception, and warfighting; and (5) monitor PRC AI progress in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, assessing overall efforts, key entities/researchers/resources, and detection methods.

This section directs the Director of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to support development of low-cost, scalable, rapidly deployable technologies to counter internet shutdowns or network limitations imposed abroad by adversary countries. The Director must prioritize (1) technologies to overcome blackouts and disruptions, including low Earth orbit satellite internet, mesh networking, portable communication systems, and virtual private networks; (2) collaboration with industry, academia, and stakeholders; (3) pilot programs and field tests; (4) technical assistance to partners; and (5) evaluation of off-the-shelf technologies. This section also requires the DIU Director to collaborate with the Defense Acquisition University to integrate acquisition best practices, align technologies with DoD priorities, provide training, foster knowledge exchange, and develop rapid acquisition strategies. Finally, this section requires the DIU Director to submit annual reports on progress, challenges, and outcomes to the Secretary of Defense and congressional defense committees, beginning one year after enactment.

This section limits the obligation or expenditure of funds authorized for FY2026, or otherwise made available, for the Department of Defense to realign the research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) function for Army ammunition away from the current Joint Program Executive Office Armaments and Ammunition or Joint Capabilities Portfolio Executive Ammunition construct until 180 days after the Secretary of the Army submits a required report to the congressional defense committees. The report, due by November 1, 2026, must include with respect to the proposed realignment to Capabilities Portfolio Executive Fires: (1) an explanation of any required relocation of Army personnel (including contractors), with estimates of numbers and locations; (2) an explanation of any expected new facilities and infrastructure, identifying what would be built and where; (3) a detailed cost estimate for relocations, equipment moves, and new construction; (4) a detailed explanation of expected efficiencies; and (5) a determination, in consultation with the Secretaries of the Navy and Air Force, on whether the realignment would hinder the joint construct traditionally maintained by the Joint Program Executive Office Armaments and Ammunition with the Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force.

This section directs the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to conduct a review of the feasibility and advisability of modifying wargaming exercises—defined as military exercises to test or improve tactical expertise, including the Globally Integrated Wargames—to incorporate militarily-relevant applications of emerging biotechnology, including (1) enhancements to warfighter cognitive and physical performance, (2) battlefield chemicals and materials, (3) adversaries' non-traditional military uses, and (4) other relevant applications. In conducting the review, the Chairman must consult combatant commanders and other Department of Defense and external stakeholders, and submit a report with recommended modifications (and, if applicable, a plan for regular updates) to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees not later than 180 days after enactment.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct a review of the feasibility and advisability of using cloud laboratories—defined as physical laboratories equipped with automation and data storage—at the Department of Defense to provide authorized researchers access to high-quality experimental instrumentation and data collection. The review must consider best practices for securely storing sensitive data such as biological data, cybersecurity and biosecurity risks, research security, data privacy, estimated construction and sustainment costs, establishment timelines, and potential improvements to data quality and quantity for research and development of novel technologies; and requires a report on the results to the Armed Services Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives not later than one year after enactment.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to submit quarterly reports to the congressional defense committees, beginning not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, identifying each covered award terminated by the Department in the preceding quarter because it no longer effectuates program goals or agency priorities under the Department of Defense Research and Development General Terms and Conditions (dated March 2025), or related or successor guidance. For each such covered award—which means a Department award relating to research or development in any of the 14 critical technology areas, as described in the February 1, 2022, memorandum titled “USD(R&E) Technology Vision for an Era of Competition” or successor guidance—the report must include (1) an explanation of whether the award was meeting relevant objectives and requirements and (2) a justification for the termination.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the Under Secretary of Acquisition and Sustainment, to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than 180 days after enactment, a report assessing the Department of Defense's (DoD) market research capabilities on critical existing and emerging defense technologies and making related recommendations. The report must (1) assess strategic market evaluation practices across DoD innovation and acquisition offices; (2) recommend improvements to market research and commercial due diligence, emphasizing private sector engagement; (3) assess development maturity in critical technology areas; (4) identify regulatory, legal, and administrative barriers to testing and evaluation (e.g., lack of authority to operate new technologies domestically and barriers to commercial/foreign military sales); (5) assess ways to address those barriers; (6) evaluate DoD practices for accumulating and storing market research data; and (7) recommend, for each critical technology sector, ways to enhance private sector participation, lower entry barriers, decrease capital costs, and shorten DoD acquisition timelines; and (8) recommend standardized best practices for market research and commercial due diligence. In preparing the report, the Secretary must consult commercial industry and venture capital representatives.

This section states the sense of Congress that the Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) Low-Cost Undersea Effectors Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO)—which seeks affordable small and medium unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) for subsea warfare, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and expeditionary operations—should be fully funded, executed to scope with rapid transition to scaled production, procured by the Navy using specified authorities, and adopted to complement traditional programs. The section also directs the Secretary of the Navy, in coordination with DIU, to provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act on (1) the CSO’s funding plan and execution status, (2) Navy plans for limited procurement of successful awardees for operational experimentation and fleet integration, (3) pathways for scaling UUV production, and (4) steps to prioritize small businesses and non-traditional contractors.

This section directs the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, an unclassified report on the planned development of a configurable, low-cost, expendable electronic warfare capability to support unmanned surface vessel (USV) survivability. The report must include the following elements: (1) an assessment of currently available electronic warfare capabilities for USVs and limitations of current technology; (2) a determination of funding availability for FY2026 through 2030 by program element to support rapid development of configurable, low-cost electronic warfare capabilities for multi-class USVs; (3) a determination of funding availability from Public Law 119-21; (4) an assessment of current and future satellite radar detection capabilities of any country determined by the Secretary of the Navy—in coordination with the Secretary of State—to be a foreign adversary with such capabilities in finding and tracking ocean-going USVs; (5) a list of possible technical requirements for a multi-class, affordable, low-power, and expendable electronic warfare system; and (6) a rapid acquisition strategy for this capability.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Under Secretaries of Defense for Research and Engineering and for Acquisition and Sustainment, to submit to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, not later than one year after the date of enactment, a strategy on national security implications of emerging biotechnologies—including their future role in defense and means to improve industry, interagency, and international relationships in the sector. The strategy must include the following elements: (1) development and expansion of a network of commercial facilities for biomanufacturing defense-critical products; (2) review and update of military specifications to incorporate or substitute biotechnology-based products; (3) updated plans and policies for advance market commitments and offtake agreements for biotechnology products with defense applications; (4) incorporation of military-relevant biotechnology applications into wargaming exercises, tabletop exercises, or net assessment analyses; (5) benefits, costs, and implementation plans for a research grand challenge (or series) to make biotechnology predictably engineerable; (6) development of a biotechnology regulation science and technology program, including digital infrastructure for simplified regulation and biometrology tools; (7) updated plans and policies for Department support to NATO members in aggregating demand and pooling purchasing power for biotechnology products; and (8) review of plans and guidance for developing, integrating, and disseminating biotechnology research initiatives across NATO members and coordinating with international stakeholders to leverage combined research capabilities.

This section directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to develop a plan for allocating up to $20 million to advanced manufacturing practices and materials for hypersonics research and development. The plan must (1) address intelligence-optimized robotic forming, additive and subtractive manufacturing methods, precision joining (laser, e-beam, friction stir) for dissimilar metals and metal/CMC interfaces, and advanced materials and processing; and (2) define qualification artifacts (process allowables, non-destructive inspection procedures, and digital-thread data standards) and pilot lines executed by consortia of primes, startups, and federal laboratories, with TRL/MRL, cost, and lead-time objectives. Not later than 180 days after enactment, the Under Secretary must submit a report on the plan to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees.

This section directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, a comprehensive report outlining the Department of Defense's strategy for the research, development, and deployment of friction stir additive manufacturing technologies. The report must include (1) an assessment of the strategic importance of such technologies for national defense, including potential enhancements to supply chain resilience, manufacturing agility, and operational readiness; (2) a summary of current and planned DoD programs and initiatives supporting their development, testing, or implementation; and (3) an analysis of key areas of operational impact, including expeditionary manufacturing and sustainment, deployable micro-factory systems for forward operating bases or contested environments, and ultra-large-scale techniques for critical defense infrastructure and platforms.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that research into atmospheric phenomenology, signatures, dynamics, and related technologies in the upper atmosphere and near-space environment is needed to support Air Force missions and directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of the Air Force, to submit a report to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act. The report must include (1) an assessment of foreign nations' intelligence and competitive activities in the upper atmosphere and near-space environment and (2) a comprehensive strategy to address such matters, including requirements for high-altitude, long-duration, and heavy-lift propulsion systems and platforms.

This section authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 2026 for operation and maintenance expenses of the Department of Defense, as specified in the funding table in section 4301.

This section includes nuclear energy and nuclear technologies among the eligible investment categories for the Office of Strategic Capital (OSC). (As background, the OSC invests DoD funds in critical technologies to support national security priorities such as supply chain resiliency and technological superiority.)

This section amends the annual report on Department of Defense (DOD) environmental programs required under 10 U.S.C. §2711 (due March 31 each year) by adding to its required elements (1) information on costs of investigating and remediating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination at all locations where such activities are expected to be DOD-funded, including total potential costs and the cost assumption analysis required under new subsection (d); and (2) a new annual PFAS cost assumption analysis by the Secretary of Defense on key cost drivers. The analysis must assess changes in regulatory standards, treatment technologies, and site prioritization that could affect future costs; provide examples of how modified assumptions on contamination extent, remediation timelines, or disposal methods could impact projections; identify funding shortfalls or constraints; and incorporate a risk and uncertainty analysis addressing variability in contamination extent, regulatory shifts, and technology advances. (As background, PFAS are persistent chemicals found at many DOD sites from historical uses such as firefighting foam, with remediation occurring under the Defense Environmental Restoration Program.)

This section modifies requirements under Section 322 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 for the Department of Defense to replace fluorinated aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF)—a firefighting agent containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—with fluorine-free alternatives, as follows: (1) in subsection (b), extends the deadline for prohibiting procurement to October 1, 2026 (from October 1, 2023), and revises the PFAS threshold from concentrations in excess of one part per billion to detectable levels; (2) in subsection (c)(1), extends the deadline for replacing non-exempt AFFF to October 1, 2026 (from October 1, 2024); (3) replaces subsection (d) with exemptions from subsections (b) and (c) for AFFF used onboard oceangoing vessels (including pier-side inspection, testing, and maintenance), for military specification testing and quality standards, during research, development, test, and evaluation of fluorine-free agents, on naval nuclear submarine propulsion plants, or in tactical vehicles and equipment incompatible with fluorine-free agents; and (4) in subsection (e), expands waiver authority to cover the subsection (b) limitation, adds "or to maintain military readiness" to waiver criteria for safety, strikes one waiver condition and revises another, and designates the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (from Secretary of Defense) to receive waiver reports.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, beginning on the date of enactment, to provide an alternative source of drinking water (which may include bottled water) to each household in a community with a private drinking water well contaminated by perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or a mixture thereof, from Department of Defense activities exceeding the applicable maximum contaminant level (MCL), until (1) cleanup attains the MCL consistent with CERCLA section 121(d) (42 U.S.C. 9621(d)) or (2) a permanent safe drinking water solution is provided. Permanent safe drinking water solutions include connection to a public water system, installation of an onsite filtration system capable of treating the contamination, or provision of another permanent alternative source of drinking water. The section directs the Secretary to coordinate these requirements with CERCLA (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) and other environmental laws and defines MCL and public water system using terms from section 1401 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f) and private drinking water well as a well that is not a public water system and not connected to one.

This section establishes a Department of Defense executive agent for installation and operational nuclear energy, to be designated not later than one year after the date of enactment in coordination with specified DoD officials including the Secretaries of the Army and the Under Secretaries of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and for Research and Engineering. The executive agent must (1) assess installation and operational energy needs and establish nuclear energy requirements in coordination with combatant commanders and the Joint Chiefs of Staff; (2) consult commercial nuclear experts on reactor capabilities, costs, and risks; (3) assess reactor technology readiness and deployability in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, military department secretaries, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission; (4) integrate DoD resources and develop a plan to aggregate demand and acquisition of reactors across installations and departments; (5) evaluate regulatory requirements and establish training programs in coordination with the Secretary of Energy and Nuclear Regulatory Commission; (6) identify timelines, resource needs, national lab support, and funding for pilot programs; (7) incorporate identified resources into DoD planning, programming, budgeting, and execution processes including program objective memoranda and budget justifications; and (8) provide technical support for military department reactor deployment programs. This section also requires the executive agent to submit annual reports to the Secretary of Defense and congressional defense committees beginning September 30, 2026, for five years, and directs the Secretary of Defense to submit to congressional defense committees, not later than one year after enactment, a plan for a program of record that identifies requirements, provides a budget estimate through 2030 (or five years after the first reactor deployment, whichever is later), summarizes subsection (b) actions, details use cases, specifies a minimum number of installations for cost-effective deployment with projected initial operational capability dates, and estimates fuel requirements.

This section establishes the Advanced Nuclear Technologies Transition Working Group, to be chaired by the Secretary of Defense (or designee) and composed of senior Department of Defense (DOD) officials—including the Secretaries of the military departments, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and specified Under Secretaries—not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act. The working group must (1) develop and implement a strategy to accelerate procurement and fielding of commercially available advanced nuclear technologies using available authorities; (2) identify critical energy needs of military installations and combatant commands (i.e., operational energy, as defined in 10 U.S.C. §2924, for training, moving, and sustaining military forces) addressable by such technologies and create an accelerated pathway to address gaps; (3) coordinate internal DOD efforts and collaboration with the commercial nuclear industry on research, development, testing, evaluation, and procurement; (4) coordinate with other federal agencies on interagency activities and best practices to overcome obstacles such as workforce, regulations, licensing, fuel access, safety, security, and decommissioning; and (5) engage commercial developers to assess availability of micro-reactors and small modular reactors for DOD needs. The working group must meet at least quarterly at the chairperson's call; provide congressional defense committees an initial briefing on its organization, plans, milestones, and activities not later than 180 days after enactment; and submit annual reports on such matters, including project statuses and transition plans, beginning September 30, 2026, until termination on September 30, 2029. The section defines "micro-reactor" as an advanced nuclear reactor with rated capacity of less than 50 electrical megawatts; "small modular reactor" as an advanced nuclear reactor with rated capacity of less than 500 electrical megawatts that may be constructed and operated in combination with similar reactors at a single site; "operational energy" as in 10 U.S.C. §2924; and "working group" as the group established under this section.

This section directs the Secretary of the Air Force to establish, not later than September 30, 2027, a program of record to (1) acquire and use commercial weather data to support operational weather forecasting and enhance mission planning and execution in data-sparse and contested environments; (2) integrate such data and related systems into Air Force meteorological and decision support frameworks; and (3) ensure resilience against adversarial advancements in space-based environmental monitoring. Not later than March 1, 2026, the Secretary must submit to the congressional defense committees (1) a transition plan for the program, including projected costs and funding requirements for FY2027 through FY2031; (2) an acquisition strategy outlining potential middle tier or major capability acquisition pathways; and (3) a budget justification for inclusion in the FY2027 President's budget request to secure sustained funding.

This section establishes a ten-year pilot program, to begin not later than 180 days after enactment, at not fewer than two naval installations to assess the use of small modular reactors or mobile reactors to meet Navy installation energy needs and inform nuclear power concepts for energy security at Navy and Marine Corps installations. In selecting installations, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment must prioritize those with a pre-enactment memorandum of agreement with a private power provider or reactor vendor and those supporting mid-Atlantic region operations (i.e., Navy Region Mid-Atlantic facilities). The program may involve public-private assessments of available infrastructure and data center co-location with reactors but does not require new contracts such as energy savings performance contracts; the Secretary of the Navy may terminate it early upon congressional defense committee notice. The section further requires the Secretary of the Navy, in each annual report under 10 U.S.C. §2925(a) from one year after enactment through September 30, 2032, to include (1) a five-year funding plan for Navy nuclear shore and installation power programs, including shortfalls; (2) identification of required authorities and barriers to providing nuclear power from installations to civilian grids; (3) lessons learned from other military departments, the Defense Innovation Unit, and relevant entities; (4) analysis of nuclear power use for data center demands at Navy installations; and (5) other relevant details. Upon pilot conclusion, the Secretary must submit or include in the relevant §2925 report an identification of funding needed to convert the pilot to a program of record and all available Navy funding for installation nuclear power that fiscal year.

This section directs the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and the Environment to carry out, not later than one year after enactment, a pilot program to install propane-powered generators at an organic industrial base facility. Under the program, the generators must be used in tandem with an on-site microgrid (as defined in 42 U.S.C. 17231(b)(6)) to improve resiliency and redundancy of power generation at the facility and be powered by conventional or renewable propane (as defined in 15 U.S.C. 6402(6)). The authority to carry out the pilot program terminates five years after enactment.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment, to submit to the congressional defense committees a strategy to accelerate Department of Defense (DOD) remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination at military installations and National Guard facilities. The strategy must include (1) prioritization criteria based on human health risk, environmental impact, and proximity to affected communities; (2) timelines for each phase of the cleanup process under CERCLA; (3) a plan to deploy additional technologies, personnel, or resources, including the number of DOD-accredited laboratories for PFAS testing and those in process; and (4) performance benchmarks for each military department and Defense Agency. This section further requires the Secretary, not later than one year after enactment, to publish and semiannually update an online public dashboard summarizing, by site, (1) funding levels and expenditures for PFAS response efforts; (2) status of CERCLA cleanup phases, including interim removal actions; (3) projected and actual remediation timelines; and (4) community engagement points of contact.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct a comprehensive study on the feasibility, costs, and benefits of deploying small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) at Department of Defense installations to provide secure, resilient, and reliable power. The study must assess (1) potential deployment sites at such installations, (2) benefits to mission readiness, energy resilience, and cost savings, (3) regulatory, safety, and security considerations, (4) ongoing pilot projects and partnerships with the Department of Energy and private industry, and (5) enhancements to military readiness and national security against threats to energy infrastructure (i.e., cyber, physical, and natural hazards). Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary must submit a report on the study's findings and recommendations to the House and Senate Committees on Armed Services.

This section establishes, not later than one year after enactment, the position of Coordinator for Engagement with Defense Communities Affected by PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) within the Department of Defense. The Coordinator is responsible for (1) improving the Department's outreach, education, and communication with current or former U.S. defense communities affected by PFAS contamination or leakage and (2) serving as a dedicated liaison between the Department and state and local governments, advocacy organizations, and individual citizens in communities with ongoing or incomplete DoD PFAS remediation projects.

This section revises the prohibition on Department of Defense contracts for firefighting or security-guard functions at military installations (10 USC 2465) by making the following changes to the exceptions in subsection (b): (1) expanding the exception for contracts of one year or less—which previously applied only to firefighting functions that deployed members of the armed forces would otherwise perform—to also include security-guard functions; and (2) adding a new exception for installation access control security guard contracts at installations with fewer than 300 permanently assigned enlisted members in pay grades below E-7 (e.g., E-1 through E-6). The section further adds a new subsection (c) stating that the prohibition does not apply during war or a national emergency declared by the President or Congress. (Thus, these changes allow greater flexibility for contracting out such functions at smaller installations or during exigencies to preserve unit readiness.)

This section eliminates Department of Defense preferences for and requirements relating to motor vehicles using electric or hybrid propulsion systems by striking paragraphs (4) and (10) of 10 U.S.C. §2911(e)—which required such preferences in DoD energy performance plans—and by striking 10 U.S.C. §2922g, with conforming redesignations of remaining paragraphs in §2911(e).

This section establishes in new 10 U.S.C. §2229b a Joint Staff official, designated by the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with principal responsibility for integrating global contested logistics posture management (i.e., supply, maintenance, prepositioned stocks, deployment/distribution, health services, engineering, logistics services, and operational contracts in adversary-disrupted environments) across the military departments. That official must coordinate and deconflict military department activities on (1) locations and composition of prepositioned stocks outside the continental United States, (2) intra-theater sea and air lift capabilities, (3) resourcing for operational plans and contingencies, and (4) related shortcomings. The section further requires each Secretary of a military department to designate a senior official (with an optional deputy) responsible for departmental preparedness to provide coordinated logistics support outside the continental United States in contested environments, including site access, infrastructure development, prepositioning, and alignment with operational/contingency plans. Additionally, the section directs the Joint Staff official, in coordination with departmental officials, to develop and biennially update a two-year contested logistics posture strategy describing current prepositioned stocks and sites, identifying shortcomings and additional needs, prioritizing investments and resource requirements, listing access barriers by location, and assessing threats; the strategy must be completed by January 31, 2027. Departmental designations are required within 90 days of enactment; an initial report on designees and the strategy development plan is due to congressional defense committees within 180 days of enactment; and biennial interim reports are required until strategy completion.

This section modifies the fiscal years used to calculate the minimum capital investment requirement for certain Department of Defense depots from the preceding three fiscal years to the preceding fiscal year, the current fiscal year, and the estimated amount for the following fiscal year.

This section modifies the annual report on the Navy Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program required by section 355(c)(2)(A) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (P.L. 117-81) to include the incorporation of digital infrastructure (including hardware, software, and cloud storage) and platforms. (The program sustains and modernizes infrastructure at the Navy's four public shipyards.)

This section amends Section 359 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (10 U.S.C. 2476 note), which requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a strategy (including updates and an implementation plan) to improve infrastructure at covered depots (i.e., military department depots subject to an 8% minimum annual capital investment requirement under 10 U.S.C. 2476), by (1) striking subsection (c); and (2) redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively.

This section establishes a pilot program, the Arsenal Workload Sustainment Pilot Program, to incentivize public-private partnerships at government-owned, government-controlled arsenals of the Department of the Army. The Secretary of Defense must establish the program and issue implementing regulations within 90 days of enactment; prioritize contracts to non-public partners (i.e., entities, individuals, universities, or nonprofit organizations) that perform work equally with Department of Defense employees; submit a report to the congressional defense committees within one year assessing activities, workloads by budget account, procurement potential, alignment with the future-years defense program under 10 U.S.C. §221, and required capital investments; and terminate the program five years after establishment.

This section directs the Secretary of the Air Force to incorporate depot-level maintenance, repair, and sustainment planning—covering topics such as minimizing transportation requirements, munitions resupply coordination, mutual airworthiness certification, and emergency tabletop exercises—into at least one multinational exercise each year in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of operations with covered nations (i.e., Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, or any other nation designated by the Secretary). Such exercises must include coordination with the Air Force Sustainment Center and participation by representatives of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. Air Forces Pacific, U.S. Air Mobility Command, and the Air Force Sustainment Center. The section also requires the Secretary to submit to Congress, not later than one year after enactment, a report summarizing lessons learned from implementing subsection (a) with respect to Korea and Australia, including (1) candidate systems for co-sustainment; (2) depot-level repair opportunities such as testing equipment or line-replaceable units; (3) opportunities to involve Korean and Australian industry partners via public-private partnerships; (4) potential logistical challenges with host countries (e.g., workforce, housing); (5) intellectual property or data rights impediments; (6) International Traffic in Arms Regulations impediments; (7) recommendations to facilitate partnerships (e.g., changes to status-of-forces agreements); (8) analysis of Korea's and Australia's organic industrial base capabilities and gaps; (9) assessment of suitable maintenance activities for partnership; (10) contributions to allied contingency operations, interoperability, and regional resilience; and (11) relevant planning factors such as force generation models and statutory maintenance thresholds.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to ensure that Department of Defense maintenance of aviation critical safety items—parts, assemblies, or equipment whose failure, malfunction, or absence could cause catastrophic failure, loss of aircraft, serious personal injury or death, or uncommanded engine shutdown—and mission critical parts uses a technical data requirement or organic/commercially available diagnostic tool when required and available, rather than solely visual inspection unless no such tool exists or only visual inspection is specified. It further requires planning for acquisition of such data and tools as part of system sustainment. The section defines diagnostic tool as a non-destructive inspection tool that detects corrosion, cracks, damage, adhesion failure, and wear, potentially using artificial intelligence and machine learning for predictive maintenance.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretaries of the Navy and Air Force, to ensure by September 30, 2028, that (1) sufficient wartime spares, support equipment, and depot-level capabilities are available for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (i.e., the Department of Defense's fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft) to sustain operations for at least 90 days under each military department's most stressing operational plan and to meet fleet-wide minimum readiness targets established by each Secretary; and (2) each F-35 contractor provides, and the applicable Secretary validates as accurate, all information necessary for Department of Defense financial reporting and accountability for F-35 property—including contractor-agreed government property management data and remediation of all contractor-controlled material weaknesses identified in the FY2024 Department of Defense Agency Financial Report. The section permits such information to be provided on an individual contract basis; authorizes the Secretary of Defense to waive subsection (a) requirements if determined to be in the national security interest, with notice to the congressional defense committees that identifies the concern, a remedial action plan, and a timeline for compliance; and requires a report to those committees by February 1, 2026, describing (1) top scarce supply assets and plans for sustainable supply by September 30, 2028; (2) readiness of afloat and deployment spares packages and efforts to refresh outdated supplies; and (3) fiscal-year-by-fiscal-year programming needed to address deficient parts and depot capabilities to meet F-35 sustainment targets by September 30, 2028.

This section directs the Secretary of the Army, to accelerate modernization of the Army's organic industrial base (i.e., government-owned facilities) and expand munitions production capacity—(1) to assess existing Army facilities, environmental permits, security arrangements, and personnel to identify those that could be used or modified for munitions production; and (2) to ensure identified facilities have sufficient available and suitable property for future industrial or technical development. It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary should expedite such use or modification to increase munitions production rates.

This section prohibits the use of FY2026 funds authorized for the Department of Defense from reducing civilian personnel at Pine Bluff Arsenal (Arkansas), Blue Grass Army Depot (Kentucky), Corpus Christi Army Depot (Texas), or Red River Army Depot (Texas) until the Secretary of the Army (1) certifies to the congressional defense committees that any such reduction complies with 10 U.S.C. §2687 (civilian personnel limits associated with base realignments and closures), §7532 (requirement to produce Army supplies in U.S. government-owned facilities), and §2466 (50 percent limit on depot-level maintenance and repair workload performed by non-Federal personnel); and (2) submits a report to the committees that includes (A) a detailed cost analysis of compliance with those provisions, (B) estimates of costs and time to relocate the white phosphorus ammunition mission from Pine Bluff Arsenal (including environmental permitting), and (C) Army capability gaps addressable by the organic industrial base (e.g., small unmanned aircraft systems, battery technology, and brushless motors).

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense to write off depreciated costs or debts associated with capital assets at Department of Defense depots and arsenals that do not generate revenue due to government-directed mission changes. The Secretary may delegate this authority to the Secretary of a military department.

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish Advanced Technology Centers at community colleges with workforce programs that include a critical national production facility, to provide training in covered critical skills. Covered critical skills are (1) advanced composite material layup, (2) advanced coatings applications, (3) computer numerical control manufacturing, (4) aircraft mechanical assembly and integrated circuit development (including for B-21 and F-35 aircraft), and (5) welding, pipefitting, and metal fabrication related to vessel construction, repair, and maintenance.

This section establishes an Army museum system within the United States Army Center of Military History, to be supported by the Secretary of the Army. The system includes the National Museum of the United States Army and may include other museums honoring individual installations, units, or branches that meet Secretary-designated criteria, including (1) historical significance to Army operations, technology, or personnel; (2) public accessibility and educational outreach programs; and (3) alignment with the Army's mission to preserve its heritage. The section further requires the Secretary to establish criteria for closing museums in the system and, prior to any closure, to notify Congress at least 90 days in advance with (1) a plan for preserving, storing, or alternately displaying historical collections; (2) resolution of personnel issues; (3) identification of public-private partnership efforts to maintain operations; and (4) an analysis of costs to transport, consolidate, and preserve collections. Finally, the section authorizes the Secretary to enter into partnerships, including with nonprofit organizations, to enhance the financial sustainability and public engagement of system museums.

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to maintain a centralized library in the Department of the Navy dedicated to preserving, curating, and providing access to historical records, technical documents, and educational resources pertinent to the Navy's mission and heritage. The library's mission includes (1) collecting and preserving naval historical records, manuscripts, artifacts, and publications; (2) supporting research, education, and training for historians, the general public, and Navy personnel; (3) enhancing the Navy's institutional knowledge and operational readiness through access to technical, strategic, and doctrinal resources; and (4) promoting public understanding of the Navy's contributions to national defense and maritime history.

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to maintain an art gallery to preserve, display, and promote artwork related to the history, heritage, and operations of the United States Navy. The gallery's mission includes (1) collecting and exhibiting artworks, including paintings, drawings, and sculptures, that depict naval operations, personnel, and significant historical events; (2) enhancing the morale and welfare of Navy personnel by celebrating their service through artistic representation; and (3) educating the public and preserving the Navy's cultural legacy for future generations.

This section establishes the United States Navy Museum System, which the Secretary of the Navy shall support and which includes the following 11 specified museums: (1) the National Museum of the United States Navy; (2) the United States Naval Academy Museum; (3) the Naval War College Museum; (4) the Submarine Force Museum; (5) the National Naval Aviation Museum; (6) USS Constitution Naval History and Heritage Command, Detachment Boston; (7) the United States Navy Seabee Museum; (8) the Puget Sound Navy Museum; (9) the Naval Undersea Museum; (10) the National Museum of the American Sailor; and (11) the Hampton Roads Naval Museum—plus such other museums as the Secretary designates that meet established criteria. Those criteria require historical significance to naval operations, technology, or personnel; public accessibility and educational outreach programs; and alignment with the Navy's mission to preserve its heritage. The section authorizes the Secretary, consistent with applicable law, to enter into partnerships—including with nonprofit organizations—to enhance the museums' financial sustainability and public engagement.

This section establishes the Center for the Study of the National Guard within chapter 1 of title 32, United States Code, at an academic institution with an established relationship to the National Guard Bureau, a strong military history program, and proximity to a major National Guard installation. The Center serves as the principal repository for National Guard historical documents, oral histories, and records; conducts research, analysis, and educational programs on the National Guard's history, evolution, and operational contributions; facilitates public outreach on its role in national defense and domestic operations; and supports Department of Defense policy and strategic planning for National Guard activities under titles 10 and 32, United States Code. The Chief of the National Guard Bureau may collaborate with the Center by providing documents and resources and facilitating joint initiatives, and the Secretary of Defense must seek to operate the Center as a public-private partnership to minimize federal costs. The Secretary must establish the Center by 180 days after enactment and provide the congressional defense committees a briefing within one year of enactment on the host institution, establishment status, National Guard Bureau efforts, and recommendations to enhance National Guard historical preservation and study.

This section directs the Secretary of the Navy to recognize three aspects of the National Navy UDT–SEAL Museum, located at 3300 North Highway A1A, North Hutchinson Island, in Fort Pierce, Florida—(1) the National Navy SEAL Museum Memorial as a national memorial of the Navy SEALs, (2) the Memorial Garden and Living Beach as a national memorial garden, and (3) the Naval Special Warfare K9 Memorial as a national K9 memorial.

This section inserts new section 489 of title 10, United States Code, requiring the Secretary of Defense to conduct biennial assessments of each military department's nutrition standards—including related programs and policies—and their reflection in food options at military installations, with results reported to the Armed Services Committees of the House and Senate and published on a public Department of Defense website (first report due December 1, 2026). It further requires the Under Secretaries of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and for Acquisition and Sustainment—coordinating with the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs and others—to jointly submit to those committees and publish on a public Department of Defense website, within 180 days of enactment, a plan to increase access to nutritious food on military installations consistent with the Government Accountability Office report titled “DOD Food Program: Additional Actions Needed to Implement, Oversee, and Evaluate Nutrition Efforts for Service Members” (GAO–24–106155, June 24, 2024); the plan must include a strategy for expanding nutritious menu options at nonappropriated fund food venues (i.e., installation venues offering food services to service members but not funded by appropriations).

This section requires the Secretary of the Army, acting through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to submit quarterly reports to the congressional defense committees on the status of munitions response projects at sites formerly used by the Department of Defense (i.e., Formerly Used Defense Sites program addressing unexploded ordnance and related contamination), beginning 30 days after the end of each fiscal quarter after enactment and continuing until five years after enactment. Each report must include (1) the number and total dollar value of new task order awards, (2) the number and total dollar value of optional tasks exercised, (3) the number and total dollar value of contract modifications or requests for equitable adjustment, (4) the number and total value of task orders with expiring funds and associated deobligations, (5) the number of active projects and each project's contract phase (e.g., remedial investigation, feasibility study, proposed plan, decision document, or record of decision), and (6) the number of active projects placed on hold and, for each, a summary of reasons (e.g., regulatory agency delays, rights-of-entry issues, Federal land manager actions, or discrepancies in subsurface anomalies).

This section requires the Secretary of the Air Force to submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate, not later than May 31, 2026, a report on declining aircraft readiness rates in the Air Force fleet (with emphasis on fighter aircraft) and contributing factors. The report must include (1) a review of mission capability rates over the five preceding fiscal years and key factors contributing to any decline (e.g., maintenance backlogs, parts shortages, or depot constraints); (2) an analysis of how reductions in flying hours or sustainment funding affect sortie generation, aircraft downtime, and readiness; (3) an assessment of aircraft status communications, including discrepancies between pilot debriefs, maintenance records, and the Defense Readiness Reporting System; (4) an assessment of high-tempo deployments' effects on aircraft availability, degradation, and long-term readiness; (5) an analysis of low readiness rates' impacts on new fighter pilot training; and (6) proposed actions to reverse the decline, improve sustainment and reporting accuracy, and any legislative recommendations. The report must be unclassified but may include a classified annex.

This section makes congressional findings on training deficiencies contributing to military vehicle accidents, as identified in a 2021 Government Accountability Office report, and expresses the sense of Congress that budget requests for manned military ground vehicles include dedicated funding for high-fidelity driver training simulators incorporated into vehicle lifecycles for initial and sustainment training in sufficient numbers at military installations. The section further directs the Secretaries of the Army and the Navy to jointly submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than March 1, 2026, a report assessing fielded military vehicle programs lacking driver simulators, including an updated cost analysis requirement document and a phasing plan for their procurement and fielding.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency, to submit to the congressional Armed Services Committees a report, not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act, evaluating the feasibility, safety, and potential benefits of including creatine supplements in Meals Ready-to-Eat (MREs)—prepackaged field rations for U.S. military personnel. The report must include (1) an assessment of benefits and risks of creatine supplements, including effects on Armed Forces members' strength, muscle health, physical performance, injury prevention, recovery, and overall readiness; (2) an evaluation of logistical considerations such as storage, distribution, shelf life, and cost; and (3) recommendations on the advisability and manner of including such supplements in MREs.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and the Secretaries of the military departments, to conduct a study not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act on (1) DLA's methodology for establishing class IX (i.e., repair parts) recovery rates and (2) the effects of such rates on the organic industrial base, with emphasis on military depots and arsenals. The study must address DLA's recovery rate methodology for all customers; effects on depot and arsenal cost structures, budgeting, and workload execution; differences in effects on depot-level maintenance versus other DLA customers; unintended consequences such as delays, cost overruns, or degraded readiness; and recommendations to better align DLA pricing with depot and arsenal sustainment, affordability, and readiness goals. Not later than 270 days after enactment, the Secretary must submit a report on the study's findings and recommendations for legislative or policy changes to the congressional defense committees.

This section directs the Chief of Staff of the Army, in coordination with the head of Army Aviation and Missile Command, to provide the House Armed Services Committee a briefing on the sustainment and funding plan for Department of the Army directed energy programs of record, not later than 180 days after enactment. The briefing must include an assessment of comparative cost efficiencies and operational advantages to (1) support readiness, (2) reduce dependence on original equipment manufacturers, and (3) develop a workforce trained to address directed energy technology requirements and safety aspects.

This section directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, to submit to the congressional defense committees by March 1, 2026, a report on options to reduce the frequency of permanent changes of station for members of the Armed Forces and sea-shore rotations (i.e., rotations between naval vessel and onshore assignments). The report must include (1) an analysis of associated costs, disaggregated by military department and occupational specialty, over the five preceding fiscal years; (2) an assessment of potential Department of Defense cost savings; (3) an evaluation of effects on member retention, spouse employment, and children's education; (4) an identification of billets, duty stations, and communities where extended tour lengths or rotation adjustments are operationally feasible while sustaining mission readiness and career progression; and (5) recommendations for legislative or policy changes to conduct a pilot program or implement such extensions or adjustments.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, a report on encroachment management related to the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR). The report must (1) outline ongoing encroachment management projects, landscape partnerships, and stakeholder engagements to ensure the NTTR's long-term viability; and (2) describe (A) resources needed for such projects, partnerships, and engagements; (B) specific encroachment issues; (C) the coordination process among the Department of Defense, Department of the Interior, Department of Energy, local community leaders, and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States regarding foreign land acquisitions; and (D) areas for congressional engagement.

This section directs the Secretary of the Air Force to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than January 31, 2026, a report on the Department of the Air Force's coordination with local officials to identify solutions for contamination caused by activities at the former George Air Force Base (a U.S. Air Force installation in California closed in 1992). The report must include (1) a description of ongoing and planned efforts to address the contamination; (2) a description of opportunities for partnership with federal, state, and local entities; (3) plans to ensure cleanup responsibilities are not shifted to affected communities and do not restrict economic development; and (4) an assessment of the estimated costs, timelines, and feasibility of each proposed solution.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, to conduct not later than 180 days after enactment a comprehensive joint mobilization and sustainment readiness study—modeled on the 1978 Nifty Nugget exercise—to assess the Armed Forces' capability to respond to a high-intensity contingency in the Indo-Pacific region. The study must assess (1) rapid mobilization, deployment, and sustainment of active and reserve forces for scenarios such as the Taiwan Strait or South China Sea; (2) strategic lift and sustainment capabilities across military departments, including maritime sealift, airlift, rail, road networks, and prepositioned stocks; (3) critical logistics vulnerabilities, mobilization bottlenecks, and command and control challenges; (4) interagency coordination and civilian emergency support integration; and (5) joint and allied interoperability, particularly with Japan, Australia, the Philippines, and Taiwan. This section also requires the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, to conduct a civilian skills inventory of the Reserve Components identifying reservists' non-military qualifications and talents, including foreign language proficiency and cultural expertise; advanced academic credentials such as master's and doctoral degrees; industrial and technical skills such as cybersecurity, software development, engineering, logistics, manufacturing, and data science; critical infrastructure and emergency response expertise; and private-sector leadership and innovation experience relevant to defense mobilization and sustainment. Not later than one year after enactment, the Secretary must submit to the congressional defense committees a report including (1) the study's results, findings, and recommendations; (2) a summary of the skills inventory with recommendations for leveraging those skills in contingency planning, civil-military integration, and surge operations; (3) a comparative analysis of best practices by each Armed Force with respect to mobilizing Reserve Component forces, identifying and utilizing reservists' civilian skills, and executing logistical lift and sustainment operations (including Navy maritime port operations, Army rail and overland transport, Air Force strategic airlift, and Marine Corps expeditionary logistics); and (4) estimates of Reserve Component personnel likely available and required to reinforce forward-deployed active duty units during the first 30, 60, and 90 days of a major Indo-Pacific contingency, as well as personnel required for full-scale mobilization and logistics surge operations within the United States (including at domestic transportation nodes, sustainment hubs, ports of embarkation, mobilization training centers, and other homeland support functions).

This section requires the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, in coordination with the Commander of United States Special Operations Command, to submit to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees a report on the integration potential and value of ultra-short takeoff and landing aircraft for last-mile logistics and disaster response, not later than 180 days after enactment. The report must include (1) an assessment of comparative cost efficiencies and operational advantages in contested logistics and disaster response scenarios; (2) identification of critical capability gaps in last-mile or last-tactical-mile logistics where such aircraft could serve as a force multiplier; (3) an evaluation of specific mission sets and end users across the Indo-Pacific theater that could benefit, especially for homeland disaster response, humanitarian relief, wildfire suppression, or emergency resupply; (4) options and timelines to accelerate development, testing, and integration into Air Force and Special Operations Command portfolios; and (5) an assessment of current testing and development, operational concept development, and tactics, techniques, and procedures formulation.

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense, during Department of Defense noncombatant evacuations of civilians from a foreign country, to enter into agreements with nonprofit entities for the evacuation of (1) family pets of U.S. citizens evacuated by the Department and (2) contract working dogs (i.e., dogs performing services for the Department pursuant to contracts and trained and kenneled by contractors) located in that country. The authority is subject to limitations that (A) the Department is not responsible for veterinary care for such pets or dogs due to the evacuation and (B) its exercise may not reduce the number of individuals otherwise evacuated. This section also revises the section heading of 10 U.S.C. §2387, changes the heading of subsection (a) to "Requirement to transfer," and redesignates subsection (c) as subsection (d).

This section prohibits Department of Defense manned rotary wing aircraft from conducting training missions in highly trafficked domestic airspace unless actively warning nearby commercial aircraft in a manner compatible with the traffic alert and collision avoidance system, notwithstanding section 1046 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (P.L. 115-232). It (1) defines highly trafficked domestic airspace as the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Area Special Flight Rules Area (14 C.F.R. § 93.335) or areas surrounding Class B, C, or D airspace at commercial service airports (49 U.S.C. § 47102); (2) authorizes the Secretary of a military department, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Transportation, to waive the prohibition if determined to be in the national security interest of the United States and following a commercial aviation compatibility risk assessment; and (3) prohibits delegating such waiver authority below a general or flag officer.

This section adds the State of Yap of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau to the list of territories eligible for intergovernmental support agreements for military installation-support services (i.e., mutual agreements between the Department of Defense and local governments for services such as utilities, emergency response, and facility maintenance).

This section establishes an exception to the Fly America Act (49 U.S.C. 40118(a), (c)) authorizing the Secretary of Defense to pay foreign air carriers to transport Department of Defense personnel and up to three domestic animals (i.e., dogs or cats), plus in-cabin or accompanying checked baggage or cargo, between the United States and foreign locations or between foreign locations, if no U.S.-certificated air carrier (under 49 U.S.C. 41102) is willing and able to accommodate the animals. Payments are capped at the amount that would have been paid to a U.S. carrier, with personnel covering any excess cost. (As background, the Fly America Act generally requires federal agencies to use U.S. carriers for official air transportation of passengers and property to promote the U.S. airline industry.)

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense, beginning not later than 30 days after enactment and subject to appropriations, to provide adjustment and diversification assistance under 10 U.S.C. §2391(b)—which supports economic adjustment for communities affected by defense base realignments—to state and local governments impacted by Army Transformation Initiative actions at Red River Army Depot (Texas), Pine Bluff Arsenal (Arkansas), and other installations identified by the Secretary. The section also directs the Secretary to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than 60 days after enactment, a report identifying (1) anticipated FY2026 assistance amounts for each such installation and (2) options to address Army capability gaps through the Army organic industrial base.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to ensure milk is available to members of the Armed Forces at dining facilities on military installations and prohibits purchasing such milk from an entity owned or controlled by a foreign adversary, as determined by the Secretary of Commerce under 15 CFR 7.4 (or successor regulation). The term "milk" has the meaning given in 21 CFR 133.3 (or successor regulation) and includes fluid or powdered milk.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, not later than 180 days after enactment and in consultation with military departments, veterinary experts, and military working dog program managers, to establish and implement minimum standards for kennels and facilities housing military working dogs. The standards must address (1) space and design for natural behaviors; (2) environmental conditions including ventilation, temperature, and weather protection; (3) sanitation and hygiene; (4) safety and security; (5) veterinary care access; (6) daily exercise areas; (7) annual inspections; and (8) other requirements as determined appropriate by the Secretary. This section further requires the Executive Agent for the Department of Defense Military Working Dog Program to (1) assess existing facilities for compliance not later than one year after the standards are established and modify them as needed not later than three years after enactment; and (2) ensure any new or renovated facilities constructed after enactment comply before housing dogs. This section authorizes the Secretary to waive standards on a case-by-case basis for temporary deployments or exigent circumstances, provided alternative welfare measures are implemented and the Armed Services Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives are notified with justification.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to ensure restroom access—located at or near each covered location (i.e., a safe haven, secure holding area, or secure holding location at a military installation or DoD facility), with privacy, hand washing, accessibility, and gender-specific features to the extent practicable—for covered drivers (i.e., operators of a commercial motor vehicle authorized to provide DoD transportation protective services for sensitive cargo and subject to federal hours-of-service requirements) while transporting such cargo. The section prohibits restroom placement that poses a security, health, or safety risk or violates DoD regulations and requires a process for covered drivers to notify the Secretary of noncompliance, after which the Secretary must coordinate with installation commanders to provide access. Sensitive cargo includes arms, ammunition, explosives, classified material, or other items designated by the Secretary.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to issue regulations, not later than two years after the date of enactment, prohibiting members of the Armed Forces from wearing optional combat boots (i.e., combat boots not furnished by the Secretary) as part of a required uniform unless the boots are entirely manufactured in the United States and entirely made of (1) materials grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in the United States and (2) components manufactured entirely in the United States from such materials. The section authorizes waivers for medical justifications approved by a member's commanding officer and exempts members in combat arms military occupational specialties who are deployed.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to enhance efforts to manage, control, and interdict the greater banded hornet—an invasive species—on military installations in Guam. Authorized activities include (1) science-based management and control programs to reduce effects and prevent spread; (2) support for interagency and intergovernmental response efforts; (3) pursuit of chemical, biological, and other control techniques and best practices; (4) establishment of an early detection and rapid response mechanism for the hornet or other newly detected invasive alien species; and (5) other appropriate activities. It further requires the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment to provide briefings to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees on implementation, beginning 180 days after enactment and annually thereafter for the next three years.

This section limits obligation or expenditure of FY2026 funds authorized by this Act or otherwise available for the Army's Next Generation Initial Entry Rotary Wing training program (Flight School Next) at Fort Novosel, Alabama, until (1) the Secretary of the Army submits to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees a business case analysis of current initial entry rotary wing training at Fort Novosel and options to increase training quality, reduce costs, and gain efficiencies; and (2) the Secretary provides those committees a briefing on the analysis.

This section prohibits the Department of Defense from banning clean agent fire suppression products (i.e., electrically nonconducting, volatile, or gaseous fire extinguishing agents that leave no residue upon evaporation) based on the presence of a fluorine-carbon bond if no covered alternative product exists and either (1) such use is required by federal or state law or regulation, or (2) the Secretary of Defense determines that failure to use it may cause catastrophic or critical failure resulting in property loss or damage, or an unacceptable risk of personal injury or loss of life. A covered alternative product is one that is not prohibited by federal or state law or regulation, is readily available in sufficient quantity at comparable cost, and performs as well as or better than the product it replaces.

This section exempts civil works projects of the Department of Defense (i.e., primarily infrastructure such as dams, levees, and waterways maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) from the recommendations, procedures, and plans of the commission established under section 370 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283; 10 U.S.C. 113 note). (As background, the commission—known as the Naming Commission—identified DoD assets commemorating the Confederate States of America and recommended their renaming, removal, or modification.)

This section authorizes the obligation or expenditure of fiscal year 2026 operation and maintenance funds appropriated for the Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program under 10 U.S.C. 2012 to procure supplies and materials necessary for approved training projects, provided that such procurement (1) directly relates to the project's training objectives and (2) is accounted for in accordance with Department of Defense regulations. (As background, the IRT program enables military units to provide support and services—such as engineering, medical, or construction assistance—to non-Department of Defense organizations and communities when incidental to military training.)

This section increases by $35 million the amount authorized for Operation and Maintenance, Army Reserve, Aviation Assets (line 050) for flight hour funding for Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigades, offset by a $35 million reduction in the amount authorized for Operation and Maintenance, Army-Servicewide Transportation (line 390).

This section authorizes end strengths for active duty personnel as of September 30, 2026, as follows: (1) the Army, 454,000; (2) the Navy, 344,600; (3) the Marine Corps, 172,300; (4) the Air Force, 321,500; and (5) the Space Force, 10,400.

This section authorizes end strengths for Selected Reserve personnel of the reserve components as of September 30, 2026 (end of FY2026), as follows: (1) Army National Guard of the United States, 328,000; (2) Army Reserve, 172,000; (3) Navy Reserve, 57,500; (4) Marine Corps Reserve, 33,600; (5) Air National Guard of the United States, 106,300; (6) Air Force Reserve, 67,500; and (7) Coast Guard Reserve, 8,500. The section requires proportionate reductions to these end strengths for certain personnel and units on active duty (other than for training) and proportionate increases upon their release from active duty.

This section authorizes end strengths for Reserves on full-time active duty (or, for National Guard members, full-time duty) in support of the reserve components as of September 30, 2026, within the overall end strengths prescribed in section 411(a): (1) Army National Guard of the United States, 30,845; (2) Army Reserve, 16,511; (3) Navy Reserve, 10,409; (4) Marine Corps Reserve, 2,400; (5) Air National Guard of the United States, 25,171; and (6) Air Force Reserve, 6,218. (These personnel organize, administer, recruit for, instruct, or train the reserve components.)

This section establishes minimum end strengths for military technicians (dual status)—federal civilian employees required to maintain membership in the reserve components they support—as of the end of FY2026 for specified reserve components (notwithstanding 10 U.S.C. §129, which generally prohibits numerical constraints on DoD civilian personnel), as follows: (1) Army National Guard of the United States, 21,294; (2) Army Reserve, 6,258; (3) Air National Guard of the United States, 10,405; (4) Air Force Reserve, 6,455.

This section authorizes maximum strengths for FY2026 for members of the reserve components serving on full-time operational support duty under section 115(b) of title 10, United States Code, as follows: (1) Army National Guard of the United States, 17,000; (2) Army Reserve, 13,000; (3) Navy Reserve, 6,200; (4) Marine Corps Reserve, 3,000; (5) Air National Guard of the United States, 16,000; (6) Air Force Reserve, 14,000.

This section excludes from active-duty end strength calculations members of the National Guard on active duty or full-time National Guard duty for the purpose of supporting military intelligence operations under 10 U.S.C. §12301(d). (As background, 10 U.S.C. §115 authorizes maximum active-duty personnel strengths—or end strengths—for each armed service but excludes certain National Guard and Reserve members listed in subsection (i).)

This section authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 2026 for military personnel expenses of the Armed Forces and specified Department of Defense activities and agencies, as detailed in the funding table in section 4401. The authorization supersedes any other appropriations authorizations (definite or indefinite) for this purpose in FY2026.

This section streamlines Department of Defense (DOD) total force reporting requirements by (1) repealing the annual report on military technicians (previously required under 10 U.S.C. 115a(g)); (2) incorporating the annual civilian personnel management report requirements (previously under 10 U.S.C. 129(c)) into the annual defense manpower profile report (10 U.S.C. 115a) as a new subsection (d), requiring a detailed discussion of civilian workforce management for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Defense Agencies, DOD Field Activities, and military departments; and (3) repealing the separate annual civilian personnel management report (10 U.S.C. 129(c)). (The defense manpower profile report, submitted by April 1 each year, provides Congress with the Secretary of Defense's recommendations on active-duty end strengths for each armed force component and civilian personnel requirements levels for the next fiscal year, along with justifications linked to the national defense strategy, recruiting shortfalls, and support/overhead manpower needs.)

This section revises limits on the distribution of commissioned officers on active duty in general and flag officer grades under 10 U.S.C. 525 by applying them to appointments to the Space Force officer list and limiting Space Force counts to officers on sustained duty orders—2 in the grade of general, 7 above major general, or 6 in major general (unchanged numerically)—while excluding Space Force general officers in space force active status not on sustained duty orders who serve on active duty for more than 365 days but not exceeding three years (limited to 5 unless the Secretary of Defense authorizes more, with notification to congressional defense committees within 30 days). (As background, these limits cap the size of each service's general and flag officer corps on active duty to promote efficiency and career progression.) It also amends exclusions from authorized strengths under 10 U.S.C. 526 by (1) authorizing the Secretary of the Air Force to place up to 2 Space Force general officers authorized under new 10 U.S.C. 20110 on active duty for 180 to 365 days; and (2) excluding Space Force brigadier generals and above on sustained duty orders during the 60 days preceding the end of such orders. Finally, this section establishes in new 10 U.S.C. 20110 an authorized strength of 5 Space Force general officers in space force active status not on sustained duty (excluding those counted under 526 or serving in joint duty assignments, not to exceed 2), prohibits reductions in permanent grade due to the limit, and provides temporary exclusions (60 days post-assignment release, extendable by 120 days for up to 3 officers).

This section authorizes the Secretary of a military department, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, to waive the prohibition on officers serving on successive selection boards for boards considering officers for promotion to major general or rear admiral if qualified officers on the active-duty list, Space Force officer list, or otherwise authorized to serve are not available in sufficient numbers.

This section revises the career flexibility program (10 U.S.C. 710(a)), which authorizes Secretaries of military departments to inactivate eligible active-duty members (regular components, Space Force, or Active Guard and Reserve) for up to three years to meet personal or professional needs while serving in the Ready Reserve, by requiring inactivation of members who complete a detail under new section 2004c to perform religious ministry meeting professional requirements for chaplain appointment. The section also establishes a new program (new 10 U.S.C. 2004c) authorizing the Secretary of each military department to detail up to 20 commissioned officers (O-3 or below with 2-5 years active duty) and enlisted members (E-4 or above with 3-10 years active duty) per fiscal year as students at accredited U.S. colleges, universities, or theology schools for graduate degrees required for chaplain appointment. Under the new program, eligible members must sign an agreement to complete training; if the career flexibility program is available, undergo 2-3 years of inactivation under 10 U.S.C. 710(a)(2) followed by transfer or detail as a chaplain; and serve on active duty for two years (or a combination of active duty and Selected Reserve duty at three years per training year) for each year or part-year of training, in addition to other service obligations. Details are competitively selected, with expenses paid from departmental funds; failure to complete requires up to one year of active duty per training year or expense repayment; and no new agreements during periods of presidential authority for involuntary inductions.

This section elevates the statutory grade of the Judge Advocate General—each service's senior uniformed attorney responsible for supervising military justice, legal assistance, and operational law—to three-star rank (from two-star rank) while serving in that position: (1) Army, to lieutenant general (from major general); (2) Navy, to vice admiral or lieutenant general, as appropriate (from rear admiral); and (3) Air Force, to lieutenant general (from major general).

This section revises Space Force officer promotion procedures under 10 U.S.C. §20215 to require selection boards to recommend for promotion to major general only those officers deemed exceptionally well qualified (rather than among the best qualified), applies this standard to board findings under subsection (c)(3) and board reports under §20216(a)(2), exempts major general selection boards from promotion list ordering requirements under subsection (g)(1), and eliminates authority under §20217 to adjust officer placement on major general promotion lists. The section further establishes in §20239(d) a certificate of eligibility process for major general promotions, under which the Secretary of the Air Force issues a certificate upon Senate advice and consent (dated to that date), promotes eligible officers to fill designated vacancies based on service needs and regulations, and allows certificates to expire 18 months after issuance; it also adds §20241(d) to remove officers from the promotion list upon certificate expiration. (Thus, these changes raise the qualification threshold for Space Force major generals, decouple promotions from fixed lists, and enable promotions timed to actual billet vacancies within an 18-month window following Senate confirmation.) The section makes related technical and conforming amendments to §§615, 20203, 20214, 20231, 20239, 20241, and others.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to establish blast safety officer positions in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force not later than September 30, 2026, with duties pursuant to standards established under section 735 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117-263; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note). Duties include (1) monitoring and mitigating blast overpressure exposure during live-fire or explosive exercises, with authority to halt such exercises exceeding safe thresholds; (2) briefing personnel on health risks and mitigation protocols, including minimum safe distances; (3) overseeing personal protective equipment and wearable sensors; (4) investigating incidents, reporting findings, and coordinating with health care providers; (5) maintaining exposure logs; and (6) coordinating with range safety officers. The section further requires each military department to assign a blast safety officer to every special mission unit and mandates training and certification in blast safety for such officers.

This section revises provisions applicable to the officer serving as Attending Physician to the Congress by (1) setting that officer's grade at colonel (Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force) or captain (Navy) (from major general or rear admiral (lower half)); (2) striking the exclusion of that position from limits on the number of general and flag officers on active duty; and (3) excluding that position from an allowance otherwise available to certain officers. (Thus, the position is no longer subject to general and flag officer limits.)

This section sets the grade held by certain reserve component leaders while serving at lieutenant general for the Chief of Army Reserve (from major general), vice admiral for the Chief of Navy Reserve (from rear admiral), lieutenant general for the Commander of Marine Forces Reserve (from major general), and lieutenant general for the Chief of Air Force Reserve (from major general). The changes take effect one year after enactment and apply to appointments made on or after that date.

This section establishes a temporary pilot authority through December 31, 2030, for the Secretary of the Navy to order Marine Corps Selected Reserve units to active duty for up to 545 consecutive days (from 365) under 10 U.S.C. 12304b(a) for preplanned missions in support of combatant commands. (As background, 10 U.S.C. 12304b authorizes military department secretaries to involuntarily activate Selected Reserve units up to 365 consecutive days with specified budget justifications and a 60,000-member cap.) The extended authority applies to total service including training, exercises, or preparation prior to deployment but limits direct support of an operation to 365 consecutive days.

This section prohibits the Secretary concerned from considering a reserve component member's (1) time of service in the armed forces, (2) time on active duty, or (3) active duty time that would qualify the member for retired or retainer pay under a regular military retirement system (excluding reserve retirement under 10 U.S.C. ch. 1223) when evaluating suitability for activation to active duty. It requires withholding such service time and age information from evaluators but permits disclosure of relevant experience, including time performing duties pertinent to the activation.

This section establishes authority, under regulations prescribed by the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force, for officers of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard to transfer between active and inactive components to fill vacancies in federally recognized units of their respective components. (Previously, 32 U.S.C. § 303 authorized such enlistments and transfers only for enlisted members.)

This section amends chapter 3 of title 32, U.S. Code, to establish a new section authorizing the chief executive of a state that has declared an emergency due to a disaster—with the consent of the Secretary of Defense—to order a National Guard member performing Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) duty to perform state disaster response duties, subject to specified requirements. Such duties (1) must be reimbursable on a fully burdened cost basis from state funds; (2) may not interfere with the member's primary AGR duties of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, and training reserve components; and (3) may not exceed 14 days per member per calendar year, except that the Secretary may authorize an extension of up to 7 additional days if appropriate or up to 46 additional days if supporting response to a catastrophic incident (as defined in 6 U.S.C. 311). If a state is more than 90 days in arrears on reimbursements, further duty requires Secretary of Defense authorization and state obligation of funds for the arrears. While performing such duties, a National Guard member is not an instrumentality of the United States, and the United States is not liable for related claims. The section also requires the Secretary of Defense to prescribe implementing regulations within 180 days of enactment.

This section (1) designates the FireGuard Program—under which the Secretary of Defense may use National Guard members to aggregate, analyze, and assess multi-source remote sensing data for interagency wildfire detection, monitoring, and emergency response—as a program of record, and (2) authorizes the program through December 31, 2031 (previously indefinite). It further requires the Secretary to submit the first of five annual briefings to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees not later than one year after enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, covering the preceding year and including (1) states, counties, municipalities, and Tribal governments receiving program information; (2) comparative maps of wildfires initially notified through the program versus their containment perimeters; (3) time from raw satellite detection to local responder alerts; and (4) efforts to integrate emerging satellite and aerial surveillance technologies from private, nonprofit, and public sources.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and other relevant federal agencies, to conduct a comprehensive study evaluating the National Guard's capabilities and authorities in responding to cyber incidents affecting national security—including assessments of roles under Title 10 (federal) and Title 32 (state) authorities, legal gaps, resources, training needs, coordination with federal and state entities and private partners, and challenges with recommendations. The Secretary must submit the study to the congressional defense committees within 180 days of enactment in unclassified form, with a possible classified annex.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to submit to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees by March 31 of the following fiscal year an annual report for each fiscal year that covers (1) equipment shortfalls in the National Guard of each state, (2) the effects of such shortfalls on the state's National Guard ability to assist in disaster response operations, including for hurricanes, and (3) recommendations to address the shortfalls, including through modernization and prepositioning of equipment in disaster-prone states.

This section adds the Young Marines, the Naval Sea Cadet Corps, and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary to the list of youth and charitable organizations eligible for National Guard assistance under 32 U.S.C. § 508(d). (As background, the program authorizes National Guard units to provide such organizations with training, instruction, and facilities.)

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Memorial Affairs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to conduct a feasibility study on providing funeral honors details for veterans' funerals under 10 U.S.C. 1491—including flag folding, presentation to the family, and Taps—without negatively affecting National Guard Bureau operational and mission requirements. The study must (1) determine how to provide such details without such impacts, (2) identify policies and practices to prevent lapses in provision, and (3) identify ways to fully compensate veterans service organizations for related expenses. The Secretary must submit a report on the results to the congressional defense committees not later than 90 days after study completion.

This section establishes women’s initiative teams in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force to identify and address barriers to the service, recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in those armed forces. Each team must (1) identify and address issues hindering women’s service, (2) support women’s recruitment and retention, (3) recommend policy changes supporting women service members’ needs, and (4) foster community among women; teams consist of service members of varied ranks, backgrounds, and occupational specialties and must collaborate with military leadership and stakeholders. This section also requires the Secretary of Defense to submit reports on each team’s activities and progress to the congressional defense committees not later than one year after enactment and annually thereafter for five years, including team structure and membership, key activities, impact assessments with measurable outcomes, and recommendations for legislative or policy changes.

This section codifies and expands the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER) by adding a new section to 10 U.S.C. (proposed §996) that requires the Secretary of Defense to maintain it as a centralized database compiling (1) service records of armed forces members, (2) non-classified data on their occupational and environmental hazard exposures (including how, where, and when), and (3) related medical records (including diagnoses, treatment plans, and laboratory data). The section directs integration of exposure data into members' service records; data sharing with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Defense Health Agency personnel, and specified VA Under Secretaries for health care, research, compensation, and benefits purposes; and annual reports on the ILER to the Armed Services, Veterans' Affairs, Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees of the House and Senate. It also amends 38 U.S.C. §1171(b)(2) to define ILER as the database under proposed 10 U.S.C. §996.

This section codifies 11 additional basic branches of the Army under 10 U.S.C. §7063(a) by inserting them as new paragraphs (13) through (23)—(1) Air Defense Artillery; (2) Aviation; (3) Cavalry Scout; (4) Psychological Operations; (5) Special Forces; (6) Civil Affairs; (7) Cyber; (8) Electronic Warfare; (9) Military Intelligence; (10) Public Affairs; and (11) Army Music—and redesignates the existing paragraph (13) as paragraph (24). (Basic branches are the Army's primary career fields for officers.)

This section requires all Department of Defense (DoD) military personnel actions—including accessions, promotions, assignments, command selection, and military and civil schooling—to be based exclusively on individual merit, fitness, capability, and performance and prohibits consideration of race, ethnicity, or national origin in such actions. It provides a limited exception allowing consideration of those factors for tasking specific, unconventional missions in foreign countries where the operating environment of indigenous populations may justify it to optimize mission success, subject to combatant commander approval. Any such tasking requires the Secretary of Defense to report to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees within 60 days, describing the mission (including location and duration), staffing, demographic factors, number of personnel involved (including rank, position, race, ethnicity, and national origin), and rationale.

This section prohibits the Secretary of Defense from issuing any COVID-19 vaccine mandate for members of the Armed Forces as a replacement for the mandate rescinded under section 525 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117-263).

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to submit to the President and the Senate, not later than September 30, 2026, a recommendation regarding the restoration of the retired rank of General John D. Lavelle to general. The recommendation must be (1) based on (A) recently declassified records and (B) the most recent recommendation and directive of the Secretary of the Air Force that adopted and approved the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records; and (2) supported by the entirety of the record in the matter.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment, a comprehensive report on members of the Armed Forces found deceased during the 10 years preceding enactment who were designated absent without leave or on unauthorized absence instead of duty status--whereabouts unknown. For each such member, the report must include (1) sex, (2) age, (3) home station, (4) whether the member had previously reported sexual assault, sexual abuse, or stalking, (5) reasons for the designation, and (6) whether family or friends notified the member's commanding officer before the designation.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to the congressional Armed Services Committees, by September 30, 2027, a report assessing the adequacy of reimbursements for permanent change of station (PCS) expenses incurred by members of the Armed Forces. To prepare the report, the Secretary must (1) survey at least 10,000 members completing a PCS in FY2025 or FY2026 for detailed reimbursed and unreimbursed expense data (with optional receipt uploads), ensuring statistical validity and representative response rates by military department and pay grade; (2) conduct follow-up surveys on specific costs; (3) separately survey military spouses on employment and career impacts; and (4) consult military relief societies on financial assistance trends—conducted notwithstanding federal paperwork requirements under subchapter I of chapter 35, title 44, U.S. Code. The report must analyze specified reimbursement categories (i.e., dislocation allowance, temporary lodging expense/allowance, per diem, monetary allowance in lieu of transportation, personally procured moves, household goods shipment/storage, dependent travel, pet transportation, and others) by identifying covered/uncovered expenses, average actual costs from survey data, comparisons to reimbursements, justifications, and modification recommendations; examine common uncovered expenses (e.g., security deposits, utility fees, contract penalties, vehicle registration, excess pet/storage costs, childcare registration, damaged item replacement); assess financial impacts (e.g., out-of-pocket costs by pay grade, debt incidence, savings effects, relief society usage); and recommend an annual PCS reimbursement adjustment process accounting for inflation, regional variations, household changes, and emerging costs. All data must be disaggregated by PCS type (e.g., CONUS-to-CONUS, CONUS-to-OCONUS), pay grade, family status, distance, duty status, Exceptional Family Member Program participation, and origin/destination installation; incorporate existing DoD systems data to the extent practicable; and remain under DoD custody with privacy protections.

This section revises military recruiter access requirements at secondary schools and institutions of higher education, authorizes new Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) unit affiliations, and requires congressional reports. Specifically, for secondary schools, it replaces the prior requirement for access equal to that provided to postsecondary institutions and employers with a mandate for meaningful access including at least four visits per academic year between classes when students are physically present (without interfering with attendance) and, after reasonable notice, in auditoriums, at athletic functions, and other group activities; revises student directory response times to during the first 60 days of the academic year or not later than 30 days after a request otherwise; and adds academic grades and sexes to required directory information (student names, addresses, and telephone listings). For institutions of higher education, it replaces the prior equal-access mandate with the same specified access requirements as for secondary schools; adds academic grades and sexes to directory information; revises response times as above; adds whether a student submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid; and requires directory information plus reasons for non-return (if collected) for students age 17 or older not returning after the prior semester. This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish JROTC host units (at secondary institutions with at least one instructor and a memorandum of understanding) and cross-town units (operating without an instructor but using a host unit's facilities); directs guidance on roles, responsibilities, and requirements; and requires a report to the Armed Services Committees within 180 days including cross-town unit numbers and locations, enrollments, and improvement recommendations. Finally, this section directs a report to the Armed Services Committees by September 30, 2026, on JROTC honor schools including designation criteria, a list of designated schools, and the percentage of their honor graduates who enroll at a service academy after nomination.

This section establishes a Department of Defense program to inform individuals denied original enlistment in an armed force about opportunities to work in the defense industrial base (DIB). (As background, 10 U.S.C. 504 sets enlistment eligibility standards, including prohibitions on enlistment by those who are insane, intoxicated, deserters, or felons—absent exceptions—and by non-U.S. nationals or permanent resident aliens, absent limited exceptions for those with critical skills.) In carrying out the program, the Secretary of Defense must (1) identify DIB job opportunities, (2) provide information on training or certification programs needed for such jobs, and (3) seek agreements with DIB entities. The Secretary must submit to the Armed Services Committees of the House and Senate (1) an annual report on program metrics for the prior year, including the number of individuals provided job and training information and the number of agreements entered, and (2) an implementation report not later than one year after enactment.

This section establishes uniform medical accession standards for each armed force that apply equally to all commissioned officers and to all enlisted members across occupational specialties, and requires the Secretaries concerned to make such standards publicly available along with explanations of related review processes. It prohibits disqualifying potential service members solely for a medical diagnosis made before age 13 if the condition required no treatment in the prior five years, a current medical evaluation confirms fitness for service, and the Secretary concerned determines no impact on force health or readiness. The section further requires each Secretary concerned to establish a process for reviewing medical disqualifications and to authorize waivers for national security purposes; and it mandates annual reports from the Secretary of Defense to congressional defense committees on medical disqualifications, waiver approvals, and standards updates (with parallel Coast Guard reporting to specified congressional committees).

This section revises the Military Selective Service Act to replace the requirement that males aged 18-26 present themselves for registration (50 U.S.C. 3802) with automatic registration of such males by the Selective Service System Director. It authorizes regulations requiring (1) registered persons to provide identifying information including date of birth, address, Social Security account number, phone number, and email address; (2) federal entities to furnish such information to the Director as needed for registration; and (3) the Director to notify registrants of their status and any correction procedures (thus, shifting from self-registration, often via driver's license applications or online forms, to data-driven automatic enrollment while preserving the nonimmigrant alien exemption). The section makes conforming amendments throughout the Act, including replacing phrases such as "required to register" with "registered" and eliminating references to presenting for or failing to perform registration duties. The amendments take effect one year after enactment.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that the Army and Navy have implemented waiver systems allowing potential enlistees with positive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) toxicology tests to reapply for enlistment and urges the Air Force, Space Force, and Marine Corps to develop and implement similar permanent waiver systems to address recruitment challenges. The section directs the Secretary of Defense to (1) develop a waiver program permitting such potential enlistees to reapply for enlistment; (2) assess the feasibility of contacting those previously denied enlistment due to positive THC tests in states where marijuana is legal under state law; and (3) to the extent feasible, develop a plan to contact them. The section also requires the Secretary to submit a report to the congressional defense committees within 180 days of enactment, including a plan to create, disseminate, and use a clear definition affirming that waivered recruits are qualified and eligible to enlist even if they do not meet every enlistment standard.

This section requires each Secretary concerned to ensure that training for armed forces members in occupational specialties with similar civilian occupations includes all required training and certifications, enabling direct entry into those civilian occupations upon separation without additional requirements.

This section includes the Space Force Senior Level Education Program as a senior level service school and the Space Force Intermediate Level Education Program as an intermediate level service school. It also requires budget requests for these programs as part of professional military education budget submissions. (Professional military education prepares military officers for senior leadership and joint operations roles.)

This section establishes a Center for Strategic Deterrence and Weapons of Mass Destruction Studies within the Institute for National Strategic Studies of the National Defense University. The Center's mission is to (1) prepare national security leaders to address strategic deterrence and weapons of mass destruction challenges through education, research, and outreach across the federal government; (2) develop leaders with expertise in strategic deterrence and weapons of mass destruction implications; (3) create curricula and educational tools for joint professional military education institutions, per guidance from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; (4) serve as the Department of Defense's primary institution for studying strategic deterrence and weapons of mass destruction in such education; (5) conduct studies and analyses on strategic deterrence, weapons of mass destruction threats, and related responses; and (6) provide expert support on these issues to Department of Defense and other federal leaders.

This section revises cadet appointment procedures for the United States Military Academy (West Point) as follows: (1) replaces "competitive examinations" with "candidate composite score rank" (i.e., a uniformly calculated score weighted at least 60% on academics—including at least 45% on standardized tests—and no more than 10% on subjective factors) for selecting certain competitive nominees under 10 U.S.C. §7442(a)(1) and unranked alternates; (2) increases principal nominee alternates per nominating official from 9 to 14; (3) requires annual appointment of 300 qualified alternates selected by composite score rank from qualified congressional and territorial nominees and other non-selected candidates; (4) in former subsection (b), redesignated as (c), changes fixed additional appointee slots by the President (to up to 100), two other categories (to up to 85 each from 85), and one category (to up to 20 from 20), all selected by composite score rank, and strikes paragraph (5); and (5) adds subsections (l) limiting subjective score adjustments to 10% and (m) requiring an annual report to the Armed Services Committees on minimum composite scores, college entrance examination rank (CEER) scores, waivers granted, and performance of waived cadets. (Thus, the changes emphasize objective merit-based selection within the 4,400-cadet authorized strength while expanding alternate pools to fill vacancies.)

This section increases the alternative service obligation—from three years to five years—for cadets and midshipmen at the U.S. Military Academy, Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy who are permitted to resign after completing two academic years but elect not to accept a commission. (Thus, such individuals must serve five years on active duty or in the Selected Reserve instead.)

This section increases from one to two the number of additional Members of the House of Representatives designated to the Boards of Visitors for (1) the United States Military Academy, (2) the United States Naval Academy, and (3) the United States Air Force Academy. (These boards provide congressional oversight of each academy's operation, administration, instruction, and training.)

This section revises the heading of 10 U.S.C. §9414 to specify degree granting authority; faculty, reimbursement and tuition; and acceptance of research grants for the United States Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT); redesignates existing subsections (e) and (f) as subsections (f) and (g); and inserts new subsection (e) requiring the Secretary of the Air Force to detail Space Force members as instructors at AFIT in areas supporting the Space Force mission, with the number detailed each academic year equal to or greater than the product of (A) the ratio of total Space Force members to total Air Force and Space Force members and (B) total AFIT instructors. (AFIT, operated by Air University, confers degrees on graduates who meet requirements, subject to Secretary of Education approval under federal policy and civilian accreditation.) This section also requires the Secretary of the Air Force to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than two years after enactment, a report on implementation of new subsection (e), including the number, academic specialties, and courses taught by detailed Space Force instructors and an assessment of their contributions to Space Force objectives.

This section establishes a pilot program within the Department of the Navy to optimize the use of generative artificial intelligence and spatial computing for immersive training and proficiency assessment, to be developed and implemented not later than 90 days after enactment. The program requires (1) development of content for not less than 5 occupational specialties and (2) methods to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of such technologies compared to other training methods, particularly regarding cost and time to achieve training goals; the program terminates one year after establishment. Not later than 90 days after termination, the Secretary of the Navy must submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the results, including effectiveness analyses and any cost or time savings.

This section prohibits the use of funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act to endorse critical race theory—defined as the theory that individuals bear collective guilt by virtue of race, ethnicity, color, or national origin for past actions by others of the same race, ethnicity, color, or national origin—at Department of Defense academic institutions, in training provided to Armed Forces members, or in professional military education. The prohibition does not supersede the institutional autonomy or academic freedom of instructors in selecting textbooks, supplemental materials, or other classroom materials, or in preparing or presenting classroom instruction or lectures.

This section prohibits the Department of Defense from obligating or expending FY2026 funds to terminate, replace, reduce, or prepare to terminate, replace, or reduce any foreign language training or instruction program for Armed Forces members until the Secretary of Defense submits a report to the congressional defense committees identifying (1) the affected programs, (2) the intent, scope, and national security impact of any reductions, (3) effects on military linguists and Foreign Area Officers, and (4) a certification of no negative impact on the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC). Programs covered include DLIFLC institutional training, unit-level sustainment, immersive in-country training, curriculum development and staffing, digital support, and any other DOD foreign language instruction for service members. (Thus, the provision ensures congressional oversight of potential cuts to DOD language capabilities critical for military operations.)

This section limits the Secretary of the Army's authority to reorganize a unit of the Army Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)—including by closing, restructuring, reclassifying, merging, or realigning the unit—until 90 days after the Secretary, through the Army Cadet Command, provides the Senate and House Armed Services Committees a briefing specifying (1) each position to be eliminated, (2) a risk analysis of impacts on Army officer accessions, (3) potential cost savings or expenses, (4) the number of ROTC members affected including required travel, and (5) any changes to scholarships under 10 U.S.C. §§ 2107 or 2107a. It applies the definitions of "program" and "member of the program" from 10 U.S.C. § 2101. (ROTC trains college students to commission as military officers upon graduation.)

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than one year after enactment, a report on the interoperability of cyber training programs of the Armed Forces. The report must include (1) the extent to which each Armed Force uses a standardized, common core curriculum for training its members; and (2) the Secretary's recommendation on whether establishing a Department of Defense cyber academy to provide common training to all Armed Forces would improve U.S. cyber preparedness.

This section modifies eligibility criteria under 10 U.S.C. § 2004 for detailing qualified enlisted members to law school to become judge advocates by (1) increasing the maximum years of prior service to 10 years (from 8 years) for members receiving funding for educational expenses under subsection (a)(2); and (2) updating cross-references in subparagraphs (A) and (B) to specify members receiving such funding or not receiving funding under subsection (a)(3). (As background, § 2004 authorizes the military departments to detail enlisted members to accredited law schools, with or without tuition assistance, to qualify for appointment in the Judge Advocate General's Corps.) This section also makes a technical correction to a provision of the FY2025 NDAA to specify post-training service obligations of two years for each year (or part thereof) of funded legal training under subsection (a)(2) or one year for each year (or part thereof) of unfunded training under subsection (a)(3), effective as if included in that law.

This section establishes the position of Director of Admissions for the United States Naval Academy (USNA), to be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate and to perform duties prescribed by the Superintendent with the Secretary of the Navy's approval. The director holds the regular grade of commander in the Navy or lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps, upgrading to captain or colonel, respectively, upon the earlier of completing six years of service or reaching a promotion date that would have applied if selected from the promotion zone. The President may detail any Navy or Marine Corps officer above lieutenant or captain, respectively, to perform these duties without a formal appointment.

This section directs the Secretary of the Air Force, in consultation with the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, to submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate, no later than 180 days after enactment, a report on the Air National Guard C-130J Formal Training Unit (i.e., the unit that trains Air National Guard pilots and loadmasters for C-130J transport aircraft). The report must include (1) the Secretary's determination and reasoning on whether the unit is adequate for Air National Guard pilot and loadmaster throughputs; (2) the Secretary's determination on whether there is a backlog of C-130J pilots and loadmasters in the Air Force and Air National Guard; (3) the annual number of pilots and loadmasters trained through the unit; and (4) the Secretary's determination on whether the fiscal years 2027 through 2030 training plan for the unit is adequate for Air National Guard recapitalization to C-130Js.

This section directs the Secretary of the Army to accredit the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center (NGMTC), located at Robinson Maneuver Training Center in Arkansas, as a U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command institution and, upon accreditation, to (1) designate its Small Arms Weapons Expert and Squad Designated Marksman programs of instruction as Training Operations Management Activity validated, National Guard-centric courses; (2) award the Master Marksman Training additional skill identifier to Army National Guard members who complete both programs; and (3) integrate the programs into the Army Program Objective Memorandum and consider establishing a Modified Table of Organization and Equipment requirement for the skill identifier to ensure enduring demand and sustainment. The section specifies that these actions do not transfer operational control, administrative authority, or ownership of the NGMTC from the Arkansas National Guard.

This section requires the Secretaries of the military departments to ensure that all beginner motorcycle safety training provided to members of the Armed Forces meets the motorcycle safety training requirements for licensing of the state in which the member's permanent station is located.

This section establishes a one-year pilot program at the United States Air Force Academy, to be carried out by the Secretary of Defense through the Superintendent, to integrate psychological performance training into the curriculum and cadet development model. The program requires (1) training for cadets, faculty, commanders, and Academy Military Trainers in evidence-based psychological skills to develop a high-performance mindset for increased readiness, warfighter lethality, and leadership under stress; (2) use of cognitive training tools, technologies, and workshops to improve resilience, focus, decision-making, and recovery under pressure; (3) a leadership development component to equip faculty, commanders, and trainers to mentor cadets; and (4) collection and analysis of data on training effectiveness using cadet performance and attrition measures. The program must evaluate metrics including (1) attrition rates during Basic Cadet Training, fourth-class year, and third-class year; (2) cadet testing, grade point average, military performance average, and physical fitness; (3) counseling center utilization, self-reported stress and sleep quality, and well-being measures; and (4) utilization and results of cognitive training tools for attention, relaxation, and workload regulation. Not later than 60 days after the program's termination, the Secretary must submit a report to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees assessing the metrics, whether the program reduced attrition and improved performance and resilience, and recommending whether to establish a Department-wide psychological performance training program for accession programs.

This section prohibits the Superintendent of a Service Academy from allowing a male cadet or midshipman to participate in an athletic program or activity designated exclusively for female cadets or midshipmen. The section defines "female" as an individual who naturally has, had, will have, or would have (but for a developmental or genetic anomaly or historical accident) the reproductive system that at some point produces, transports, and uses eggs for fertilization; defines "male" similarly for sperm; and defines "Service Academy" by reference to 10 U.S.C. §347 (i.e., United States Military Academy, United States Naval Academy, and United States Air Force Academy).

This section requires forces assigned to a combatant command or the U.S. element of the North American Aerospace Defense Command to include sufficient qualified judge advocates to provide legal advice to all commanders responsible for planning and organizing military operations and all commanders authorized to convene courts-martial. Judge advocates assigned under this requirement must meet the statutory qualifications for judge advocates and any additional education, expertise, or experience deemed necessary by the Judge Advocate General of the relevant armed force (or, for the Marine Corps, the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant).

This section revises Article 117a of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (10 U.S.C. 917a), retitling it "Wrongful broadcast, distribution, or publication of intimate visual images," expanding the prohibited conduct to four categories for persons subject to the UCMJ, and adding exceptions, a consent clarification, and new definitions. (As background, Article 117a criminalizes nonconsensual sharing of intimate images by service members when connected to the military environment, previously limited to images of adults made under a privacy expectation and likely to cause harm.) The revised prohibition applies to any person who knowingly (1) broadcasts, distributes, or uses a communication service to publish an authentic intimate visual depiction of a non-minor identifiable individual obtained under a privacy expectation, without consent, not voluntarily exposed publicly or commercially, not a matter of public concern, and intended to cause or causing harm (psychological, financial, or reputational); (2) does so for an authentic depiction of a minor, with intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade the minor, or arouse or gratify sexual desire; (3) does so for a digital forgery (i.e., AI- or computer-generated image indistinguishable from authentic) of a non-minor, without consent, not voluntarily exposed publicly or commercially, not a matter of public concern, and intended to cause or causing harm; or (4) does so for a digital forgery of a minor, with such intent. (Thus, the revision broadens coverage beyond prior requirements of a military nexus and explicit harm likelihood to include publication via communication services and deepfakes, while separating minor and non-minor cases.) New subsection (b) provides exceptions for lawfully authorized law enforcement or intelligence activities; good-faith disclosures to law enforcement, in legal proceedings, for medical/educational purposes, to report unlawful content, or to seek help; disclosures to assist the depicted individual; and self-possession or publication. Subsection (c) clarifies that consent to creation or prior disclosure does not imply consent to broadcast, distribution, or publication. Subsection (d) defines key terms, including "consent" (affirmative and voluntary, free from force, fraud, etc.), "digital forgery," "identifiable individual," "visual depiction," and "intimate visual depiction" (depicting uncovered genitals/pubic area/anus/female nipple, sexual fluids, or sexually explicit conduct).

This section establishes a new punitive article (Art. 117b) in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) prohibiting any person subject to the UCMJ who knowingly and wrongfully (1) possesses, receives, or views child pornography; (2) possesses child pornography with intent to distribute; (3) distributes child pornography; or (4) produces child pornography, with maximum punishments of dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 10 years (possession, receipt, or viewing), 15 years (possession with intent to distribute), 20 years (distribution), or 30 years (production). The section further (1) directs exclusion or redaction of a depicted minor's nonphysical identifying information (e.g., name, address, social security number) in prosecutions, absent good cause; (2) makes facts showing unintentional acquisition (e.g., method obtained, time held, prompt destruction or report) relevant to wrongfulness; (3) bars conviction absent awareness that depictions involved a minor (inferable from circumstantial evidence such as file names or search terms); and (4) defines terms including child pornography (obscene or actual depictions of minors under age 18 in sexually explicit conduct), distribute, minor, possess, produce (creating new material, excluding mere copying), sexually explicit conduct, and visual depiction. This section also revises the UCMJ definition of covered sex offense (Art. 1(17)(A)) to include Art. 117b and strike the prior reference to child pornography as a standalone offense under the general article (Art. 134). (Thus, such offenses are no longer prosecutable solely under the general article.)

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Joint Service Committee on Military Justice, to review and recommend to the President an increase in the maximum sentence for voluntary manslaughter under Article 119(a) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ; 10 U.S.C. §919(a)) not later than 180 days after enactment. Following receipt of the recommendation, the President must prescribe regulations to implement the increase not later than one year after enactment.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Joint Service Committee on Military Justice, to analyze the advisability of modifying the definition of abusive sexual contact under Article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (10 U.S.C. §920(d)) to address the full range of harmful behaviors associated with sexual assault and to prevent misapplication of the offense to acts that are not inherently abusive. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report detailing the results of the analysis and any associated recommendations to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

This section directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, in coordination with the Director of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, to revise sexual assault prevention and response training guidance (i.e., training pursuant to Department of Defense Instruction 6495.02, Volume 2, or successor guidance) not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act to require inclusion of Department of Veterans Affairs resources addressing unwanted sexual behavior (i.e., any sexual contact or interaction to which an individual does not or could not freely consent, including harassment, coercion, assault, or abuse) in annual or periodic training administered to all Armed Forces members. The section further requires the Secretary of Defense to ensure that each military department secretary (1) incorporates the revised guidance into formal training curricula, (2) provides documented confirmation to the Under Secretary that the revised training has been delivered to all currently serving members within one year of guidance approval, and (3) establishes a mechanism to verify continued compliance. Not later than one year after issuance of the revised guidance, the Secretary of Defense must submit to the congressional defense committees a report assessing military department implementation and including statistics on the number of Armed Forces members trained under the revised guidance.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Executive Director of Force Resiliency, to submit quarterly reports to the Armed Services Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives, beginning 90 days after enactment of this Act, on Department of Defense efforts to prevent and respond to sexual assault, sexual harassment, and intimate partner violence. Each report must include (1) an overview of such efforts and (2) the most recent data on reports of those incidents and staffing levels (filled and unfilled positions, disaggregated by Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps) for the primary prevention workforce, sexual assault and harassment response workforce, Family Advocacy Program (which addresses child abuse, domestic violence, and related issues in military families), offices of special trial counsel (independent prosecutors for certain serious offenses), and investigative organizations including the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (with positions dedicated to offenses under special trial counsel jurisdiction). This section also requires the lead special trial counsels of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps to jointly provide annual briefings to the Armed Services Committees, beginning one year after enactment, on progress in prosecuting covered offenses (as defined in 10 U.S.C. §801, Article 1 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice). "Special trial counsel" has the meaning given that term in 10 U.S.C. §801.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, not later than 90 days after enactment, to contract with a federally funded research and development center to (1) evaluate the effectiveness of programs, policies, and practices of covered Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force) to prevent criminal activity and misconduct by members stationed in Okinawa, Japan; and (2) develop evidence-based recommendations for improvements. The center must submit a report to the Secretary of Defense and military department secretaries, who must transmit an unaltered copy to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees not later than 30 days after receipt. Not later than 180 days after receiving the report, each military department secretary must develop a plan to improve misconduct prevention for forces under their jurisdiction stationed in Okinawa and brief the committees on the plan.

This section requires automatic expungement of titling or indexing records (i.e., placement of a person's name in the subject or title block of a criminal investigative report or indexing system) pertaining to covered persons—current or former Department of Defense (DOD) civilian employees or Armed Forces members subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)—in covered databases such as the DOD Central Index of Investigations (DCII), 10 years after the person's separation from military service. Expungement requires complete, permanent, total, and irreversible removal of all identifying and investigative information, including retained, archived, hidden, derivative, or shadow records. Exceptions apply unless (1) a court-martial finding of guilt exists for the underlying conduct or (2) prosecution by court-martial or civilian court is reasonably expected within one year after the 10-year period. The section also directs the Secretary of Defense to revise DOD Instruction 5505.07 and related guidance to implement these requirements.

This section establishes a voluntary separation oath that members of the armed forces may take prior to retirement or other separation, other than pursuant to a court-martial sentence. It (1) inserts the new oath as subsection (b), (2) revises and redesignates the existing oath administration provision as subsection (c) to apply to "an oath established by this section" (i.e., both the enlistment oath and separation oath), and (3) amends the section heading to "Enlistment oath and separation oath: who may administer."

This section requires, as part of preseparation counseling under the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) for separating service members, a standardized presentation—previously reviewed and approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) and submitted to the congressional Committees on Veterans’ Affairs at least 90 days prior to implementation—promoting benefits available to veterans under laws administered by VA. Such presentation must be delivered by a national representative of a VA-recognized veterans service organization (i.e., under 38 U.S.C. §5902) (or, if unavailable, a state or local representative authorized by the military service secretary); include information on veterans service organization assistance in filing VA claims; not encourage membership in any particular organization; and not exceed one hour in length. This section also requires the Secretary of Defense to submit an annual report to the congressional Committees on Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs identifying each such organization that presented, the number of service members who attended, and any recommendations for changes to the presentation or requirement.

This section expands eligibility for the military adaptive sports program (i.e., a Defense Department program that provides adaptive sports activities for service members injured, ill, or wounded in the line of duty, and certain recently separated veterans) to veterans on the Temporary Disability Retirement List or Permanent Disability Retirement List who were enrolled prior to separation and are eligible due to a line-of-duty injury, illness, or wound, without the previous one-year limitation following the date of separation (from one year to indefinite). (Thus, such veterans may access program grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements for adaptive sports programming indefinitely.)

This section establishes, not later than one year after enactment, a five-year pilot program known as the Employment Navigator and Partnership Pilot Program, to supplement the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) under 10 U.S.C. 1144. (TAP furnishes counseling, job search assistance, and related services to separating members of the armed forces and their spouses.) In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, must (1) seek contracts with public, private, and nonprofit entities to provide individualized employment counseling to members of the armed forces and their spouses; (2) prioritize qualified private entities experienced in instruction on private sector culture, resume writing, career networking, job search technologies, academic readiness, and other relevant topics; (3) give preference to private entities with a national or international service area that have provided career assistance to at least 1,000 active duty members, military spouses, veterans, or veteran spouses over the prior three years and demonstrated employment success (e.g., at least 75% of participants in full-time employment within six months); and (4) enter contracts with 10 to 60 private entities, compensating each based on participants in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after program exit. The Secretary of Labor must submit annual reports to the House and Senate Armed Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Veterans' Affairs Committees on program performance, including the percentage of participants in unsubsidized employment during the second and fourth quarters after exit and median earnings during the second quarter. The pilot program terminates five years after the Secretary of Labor begins implementation.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Coast Guard when operating outside the Navy, to (1) conduct by September 30, 2026, a study identifying private entities participating in the DoD SkillBridge program (i.e., employment skills training for transitioning service members under 10 U.S.C. §1143(e)) that offer positions in registered apprenticeship programs (i.e., under the National Apprenticeship Act, 29 U.S.C. §50 et seq.) to eligible Armed Forces members; and (2) consult with Department of Labor officials experienced in such apprenticeships to enter agreements with those entities in areas where few positions are available to such members.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to submit to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, not later than September 30, 2025, a report on the results of a study on (1) increasing participation by female members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force and by female Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-related positions in those Armed Forces or DoD; and (2) modifying the DoD SkillBridge program to assist eligible such individuals in finding civilian STEM employment. (As background, the DoD SkillBridge program allows servicemembers in their final 180 days of service to gain civilian work experience through internships and training with partner companies.)

This section amends requirements for preseparation counseling under the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) for separating or retiring members of the armed forces (i.e., individualized counseling on VA benefits, employment, education, financial literacy, disability, and relocation), as follows: (1) requires minimum durations of not fewer than three days for members with post-separation full-time employment or enrollment in education/vocational training and five days otherwise; (2) requires in-person delivery to the extent practicable, with remote options (including online modules and materials) if in-person is not feasible; (3) directs the Secretary of Defense to implement a system tracking the number and percentage of members receiving counseling within required time periods; (4) authorizes waivers for reserve component members who request it, received counseling within the prior three years, and whose covered topics are unchanged; (5) authorizes commanding officers to provide counseling to reenlisting members (or those agreeing to new obligated service) on a space-available basis; (6) authorizes separating members who previously received counseling to request it a second time on a space-available basis; (7) expands spouse participation in counseling by eliminating prior limits to specific topics (i.e., financial planning, VA benefits, and service/disability claims); (8) expands financial counseling topics to include debt management and investing (in addition to loans), requires individualized assistance, and mandates delivery by personnel with significant financial planning experience; (9) standardizes TAP pathways (i.e., employment, education, vocational training, or entrepreneurship tracks) across the armed forces (including a reserve component pathway) under the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security; (10) requires notation of a member's TAP pathway assignment and rationale in their service record; and (11) enhances interagency coordination by requiring transmittal of separating members' contact information and DD Form 2648 to the Department of Veterans Affairs and, for members at risk of difficult transitions, provision of VA and Department of Labor employee contacts with follow-up outreach by those employees within 60 days of separation.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to seek agreements with institutions of higher education—as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (i.e., public and private nonprofit postsecondary institutions, proprietary institutions, and postsecondary vocational institutions that meet specified eligibility criteria, including limited foreign institutions for certain programs)—to provide credit toward a degree in a medical field for members of the armed forces who have received special operations medical training.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, within 180 days of enactment and in consultation with the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Labor and each state (through the Defense-State Liaison Office), to develop recommendations to improve the transition of military air traffic controllers to civilian air traffic control occupations by identifying barriers to (1) determining and communicating how military credentials and experience translate to civilian employment; (2) standardizing and aligning military credentials across the Armed Forces to civilian employment; and (3) ensuring separating members earn equivalent civilian credentials. The section further requires the Secretary to submit to relevant congressional committees, not later than 180 days after enactment, a report containing those recommendations and an implementation plan.

This section extends the period of availability of the Military OneSource program—providing support services such as counseling and resources—for retired and discharged members of the Armed Forces and their immediate families to an 18-month period (from a one-year period).

This section expands the individualized pre-separation counseling requirements of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) by adding four new topics after subparagraph (L) of 10 U.S.C. §1142(c)(1): (1) child care requirements of the member (including whether a dependent is enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program); (2) employment status of other adults in the member's household; (3) location of the member's duty station (including whether the member was separated from family while on duty); and (4) effects of operating tempo and personnel tempo on the member and the member's household. (TAP provides counseling to separating service members on employment, education, benefits, and other transition matters.)

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to prescribe a policy mandating that covered child and youth programs notify the parents or guardians of a child within 24 hours after becoming aware of alleged or suspected child abuse or neglect occurring in the program and provide notice of such allegation to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, relevant state Senators, and the relevant House Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner within 72 hours. Covered child and youth programs include military child development centers, Department of Defense youth programs, family home day care sites, and child care or youth program providers receiving financial assistance under 10 U.S.C. §1798.

This section establishes a pilot program, beginning January 1, 2027, to increase by 30% the maximum monthly financial assistance per child authorized under this section (i.e., the Military Child Care Fee Assistance Program, which subsidizes child care fees for military families at eligible civilian providers) for children two years old or younger. The Secretary of Defense must apply the increase in high child care cost areas (as determined by the Secretary) and may do so in other areas. The Secretary must submit semiannual reports to the congressional defense committees beginning one year after establishment—covering family participation and costs (actual vs. without increase, by location), effects on costs, provider participation, and infant/toddler care access for military families, expansion feasibility, challenges, needed changes for permanence, and other information—until pilot termination five years after establishment, plus a final report with a permanence recommendation within 90 days thereafter.

This section establishes a five-year pilot program authorizing the Secretary of Defense to award grants to eligible civilian child care providers (i.e., those licensed under state/local law that have served military families or DoD employees and meet specified criteria such as family home day care) to expand capacity for infants and toddlers, prioritizing at least 10 providers in high-cost areas. Grants cover up to 75% of expansion costs (with recipients covering the balance), and require reserving at least half of new infant/toddler slots for children of armed forces members for 10 years post-expansion without displacing existing non-military enrollees. (Thus, the program supplements DoD's existing authority to provide financial assistance from operation and maintenance funds to such providers to expand child care services at military installations.) The Secretary must submit semiannual reports (beginning one year after establishment) to the congressional defense committees, Senate Commerce Committee, and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on participation, new enrollments, cost reductions for military families, access improvements, challenges, permanency feasibility, and related matters; a final report with permanency recommendation is due 90 days after termination.

This section (1) extends the pilot program to provide financial assistance to members of the Armed Forces for in-home child care through December 31, 2029 (from five years after the date of enactment of section 589 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021), and (2) revises the deadline for the final report on the pilot program to one year before its termination (from 90 days after termination).

This section amends the list of information topics that Military OneSource—a Department of Defense program providing resources and support to service members and military families—must cover by (1) striking paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (b); (2) inserting after paragraph (1) new paragraphs (2) through (4) requiring information on health care, maternal health care (including a list of services such as pre- and post-natal care, a guide to continuity of care through permanent change of station, and for pregnant members relevant regulations, leave options, and uniform resources and requirements), and death benefits and life insurance programs; and (3) redesignating paragraphs (4) through (17) as paragraphs (5) through (18).

This section prohibits the obligation or expenditure of fiscal year 2026 Department of Defense funds—whether appropriated or nonappropriated—to terminate employees of Military Child Development Programs (i.e., DoD-operated child care for military families) or the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA, i.e., schools for dependents of service members and DoD civilians), unless the employee is documented as not performing or engaging in misconduct.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security for the Coast Guard, to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment, a report on staffing levels and access to military child development centers for members of the Armed Forces and their families. The report must include (1) an assessment of staffing levels across the Armed Forces, including factors contributing to shortages; (2) an evaluation of how shortages affect child care availability; (3) an analysis of how limited access impacts unit readiness and morale; and (4) a description of actions or planned actions to address shortages.

This section prohibits the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) of the Armed Forces from (1) providing gender transition procedures, including surgery or medication, to minor dependent children; (2) referring such children for those procedures; and (3) approving changes of duty station to provide access to those procedures. (The EFMP identifies and enrolls military family members with special medical, mental health, or educational needs and provides support services, including medical referrals and duty station assignments.)

This section establishes eligibility for dependents of reserve component members performing active service pursuant to an accompanied permanent change of station order to enroll in a school of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) at the member's permanent station military installation. Such dependents are automatically granted enrollment upon the member's request if sufficient space is available and otherwise placed on a waitlist.

This section authorizes $35 million in FY2026 operation and maintenance funds for Defense-wide activities to provide assistance to local educational agencies serving significant numbers of military dependent students under 20 U.S.C. 7703b (i.e., payments to offset costs for such students in eligible LEAs with at least 10% military-connected enrollment, rising to 20% for smaller districts). It further authorizes $5 million of such funds for Impact Aid payments under 20 U.S.C. 7703a to local educational agencies serving two or more severely disabled children of Department of Defense personnel for excess costs of providing free appropriate public education (i.e., above the state average per-pupil expenditure, minus state and federal funds received, and subject to caps of three or five times the average); an additional $5 million of such funds for payments to local educational agencies with higher concentrations of such children; and a briefing to the Armed Services Committees by March 31, 2026, on the Department's evaluation of eligible agencies and payment determinations.

This section requires each commander of a military installation under the jurisdiction of a military department secretary to annually certify to that secretary whether the commander has confirmed information in all impact aid source check forms (i.e., LEA-submitted forms verifying the number and identity of children eligible under the Federal Impact Aid program (20 U.S.C. 7703(a))) received from local educational agencies (LEAs). Not later than June 30 each year, each military department secretary must report to the congressional defense committees on military installations that have or have not confirmed such information as of the report date. (The Federal Impact Aid program provides payments to LEAs educating federally connected children (e.g., those residing on federal property or with parents employed on federal property or on active duty in the uniformed services), as local property taxes cannot be levied on tax-exempt federal lands.)

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Director of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), to enter into arrangements with institutions of higher education to provide dual or concurrent enrollment programs—allowing Defense Dependent School (DDS) students who have not yet graduated high school to earn postsecondary credit toward a degree or credential—and to provide financial assistance to cover associated costs. (DDSs include schools operated under the Defense Dependents’ Education System, primarily overseas, and domestic dependent elementary and secondary schools for dependents of armed forces members and certain federal civilian employees on U.S. military installations.) The section requires DoDEA, to the greatest extent practicable, to (1) establish articulation agreements promoting broad credit transferability across degree programs; (2) partner only with accredited institutions in good standing that demonstrate financial integrity, academic standards, and student protections; (3) align course sequences with postsecondary rigor through consultations with DDS educators, higher education faculty, and school advisory committees, and conduct outreach to students (especially middle grades), families, counselors, and principals on program benefits and requirements; (4) ensure instructors are either postsecondary faculty meeting accreditation standards or secondary teachers certified in the content area with partnering institution training; (5) preserve students' prior state of legal residence for in-state tuition, state aid, and related benefits; and (6) consult DDS school advisory committees and parent-teacher associations while prioritizing existing licensed DDS teachers unless credit transferability would be impaired.

This section authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to James Capers, Jr., under 10 U.S.C. 8291, for acts of valor as a Marine Corps member during the Vietnam War from March 31 through April 3, 1967—notwithstanding the time limitations in 10 U.S.C. 8298 (i.e., generally requiring the award within five years of the act and a recommendation within three years) or any other time restrictions. (James Capers, Jr., previously received the Silver Star for these acts.)

This section authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to retired Colonel Philip J. Conran for acts of valor in Laos during the Vietnam War, notwithstanding time limitations in 10 U.S.C. §9274 (i.e., generally requiring awards within five years of the qualifying act and recommendation statements within three years) or any other time restrictions. (Conran was previously awarded the Air Force Cross for the same acts.)

This section authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor under 10 U.S.C. 7271 to Gregory McManus for acts of valor while serving as a helicopter gunship commander in the Army during a mission north of Chai Duc near the Cambodian border, notwithstanding time limitations in 10 U.S.C. 7274 (generally requiring awards within five years of the qualifying act, with a recommendation statement made within three years). Those acts involved single-handedly attacking and disrupting a large enemy convoy through repeated low-level passes under heavy fire, destroying an armored vehicle and artillery piece, until ammunition and aircraft damage required withdrawal.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to provide the congressional defense committees, not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, with a briefing on housing and other quality-of-life needs of members of the Armed Forces deployed in support of Joint Task Force-Southern Border.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, a report on the adequacy of commissaries, dining facilities, and alternatives to dining facilities on military installations that support (1) missions along the southern border of the United States or (2) arctic missions. The report must include (1) an assessment of the adequacy of existing commissary and dining facility infrastructure at such installations, including capacity, hours of operation, and quality of food service; (2) an evaluation of whether current facilities meet the needs of members and their families; and (3) an analysis of how any inadequacies impact readiness, morale, and retention.

This section authorizes the award of the Operation Midnight Hammer Medal, an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, to Armed Forces members who (1) served on active duty in support of the armed conflict between Iran and Israel in 2025 (including Operation Midnight Hammer on June 22, 2025), (2) were deployed in an area designated by the Secretary concerned, or (3) performed other prescribed service. The section limits awards to one medal per person (with issuance to next-of-kin if deceased), requires an appropriate design approved by the Secretary of Defense, and directs the Secretaries concerned to prescribe uniform regulations.

This section waives the time limitations in 10 U.S.C. 8298(a)—generally requiring Medal of Honor awards within five years of the qualifying act or service, with a recommending statement within three years—to authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to E. Royce Williams for acts of valor as a Navy lieutenant on November 18, 1952, during the Korean War.

This section modifies the Department of Defense program to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War (i.e., coordinates observances, educational efforts, and veteran recognition activities, as established by Section 598 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110-181; 10 U.S.C. 113 note)) by (1) requiring the Secretary to conduct the program (from "may conduct"), (2) requiring specified activities under subsection (c) (from "may"), (3) directing specified funds for carrying out the program (from conditional on program establishment), and (4) making technical clarifications to subsection (g). The amendments take effect on November 11, 2025.

This section authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to Thomas Helmut Griffin under 10 U.S.C. §7271 for acts of valor as an Army captain during the Vietnam War from March 1 through March 3, 1969—for which he previously received the Silver Star— notwithstanding time limitations in 10 U.S.C. §7274 (i.e., generally requiring the award within five years of the qualifying act, a recommending statement within three years, and records confirming entitlement).

This section prohibits the Department of Defense (DoD), in forms and surveys used to collect information, from (1) soliciting or obtaining any information on an individual's gender identity, (2) providing options to indicate a sex or gender other than male or female, and (3) accepting responses other than male or female to required sex or gender questions. It defines "sex" and "gender" as the biological determination of male or female based on reproductive systems that produce, transport, and utilize eggs (female) or sperm (male)—excluding gender identity, experienced gender, gender expression, or gender roles—and specifies that "gender identity" does not mean sex or gender.

This section amends Title 37, United States Code, to codify the applicability of certain pay, allowance, special pay, incentive pay, and bonus authorities to the Space Force, including members in space force active status (as defined in 10 U.S.C. §101) not on sustained duty (as defined in 10 U.S.C. §101). (As background, Title 37 governs basic pay, special and incentive pays, and bonuses for the uniformed services; these changes conform authorities previously applicable to reserve components of other services to Space Force members serving in a comparable part-time status short of full-time sustained duty.) Specifically, the section (1) adds definitions of "space force active status" and "sustained duty" to 37 U.S.C. §101 and inserts Space Force references into paragraph (22); (2) in basic pay provisions (Chapter 3), includes Space Force in the officer pay table (37 U.S.C. §201(a)), disability and lost income pay (37 U.S.C. §204), creditable service (37 U.S.C. §205), inactive-duty training pay (37 U.S.C. §206), and Thrift Savings Plan matching (37 U.S.C. §211); and (3) in special pay authorities (Subchapter II of Chapter 5), extends bonus authorities for enlisted members and officers to Space Force transfers (37 U.S.C. §§331, 332), aviation incentive pay (37 U.S.C. §334), special pays (37 U.S.C. §§351-353), and critical skills retention incentives (37 U.S.C. §355). (Thus, Space Force members receive pay and incentives on par with other uniformed services' reserve components.)

This section extends multiple military bonus, special pay, income replacement, education loan repayment, and basic allowance for housing authorities through December 31, 2026 (from December 31, 2025). Specifically, the section extends (1) income replacement payments for reserve component members experiencing extended and frequent mobilization for active duty service; (2) nurse officer candidate accession bonuses and Selected Reserve health professionals' education loan repayments; (3) nuclear officer incentive pay; (4) general bonus authorities for enlisted members and officers, special aviation incentive pay, health professions officer bonuses, Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps contracting bonuses, hazardous duty pay, assignment or special duty pay, skill incentive pay, and retention incentives for critical skills or high-priority units; and (5) temporary increases in basic allowance for housing rates in major disaster areas or installations with personnel influxes, and in areas where actual housing costs differ from current rates by more than 20%.

This section establishes monthly incentive pay for explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) duty—a hazardous specialty involving the detection, disarmament, and disposal of explosive devices—for regular members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force who hold (or are training for) an EOD duty designator and perform such duty on a career basis. Continuous monthly rates are tiered by years of EOD duty as follows: $125 (2 or fewer years), $156 (over 2), $188 (over 3), $206 (over 4), $650 (over 6), $800 (over 8), $1,000 (over 10), $840 (over 17), $585 (over 22), $385 (over 24), and $250 (over 25); members performing EOD duty under orders receive rates set by the Secretary of Defense up to the maximum tiered amount (with a daily minimum); reserve component members receive a pro-rated daily increase. The provision takes effect 180 days after enactment and applies to EOD duty performed on or after that date.

This section establishes a standardized policy for cyber assignment incentive pay (i.e., special pay under 37 U.S.C. ch. 5, subch. III) applicable to members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force performing qualifying cyber operations roles. The policy must (1) define uniform eligibility criteria based on work-role certification, mission assignment, and readiness requirements; (2) establish a tiered pay structure based on proficiency levels and operational demands; (3) ensure parity in pay rates and qualification standards across those armed forces; (4) provide guidance for continuation of pay during permanent changes of station, subject to continued eligibility; and (5) include procedures for periodic review and adjustment of pay rates to reflect evolving mission needs and market competitiveness. This section also requires the Secretary of Defense to brief the congressional defense committees on implementation of the policy, including anticipated impacts on recruitment, retention, and readiness of cyber personnel, not later than 270 days after enactment.

This section extends the travel allowance for members of the Armed Forces assigned to permanent duty stations in Alaska to include the additional period beginning on the date of enactment and ending December 31, 2026.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of paying monthly incentive pay to enlisted members of the Armed Forces who (1) have less than four years of service, (2) have a degree in their field of specialty as determined by the Secretary concerned, and (3) commit to reenlisting. The pilot program terminates five years after enactment, after which the Secretary of Defense must submit to the congressional defense committees a report assessing its effectiveness, including effects on retention rates, member satisfaction, and cost-effectiveness.

This section requires exclusion of all basic allowance for housing (BAH) paid to an eligible servicemember from gross household income calculations for the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) (previously, only to a portion that the Secretary concerned elects to exclude). (Thus, the change expands BNA eligibility for servicemembers receiving BAH, a non-taxable housing payment.)

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, to submit to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees by September 30, 2026, and annually thereafter through 2030, a report on Department of Defense allocation and budgeting of funds for military food programs during the covered fiscal year. (As background, the basic allowance for subsistence under 37 U.S.C. §402 provides most uniformed service members a monthly allowance to offset meal costs, with rates adjusted annually based on food cost increases determined by the Secretary of Agriculture.) The report must explain (1) how the Secretary of Defense allocated basic allowance for subsistence funds to pay for food programs; (2) how subsistence in-kind is budgeted to pay for food programs on military installations; and (3) how the Secretaries of the military departments used budget authorities to fund the fully burdened cost of feeding members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force assigned to essential station messing.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to enter into an agreement by September 30, 2026, with a covered entity (i.e., a nationally recognized entity in single-family housing with data on local rental rates nationwide) to conduct a study using industry-standard machine learning and artificial intelligence to calculate proposed monthly basic allowance for housing (BAH) rates for at least 15 military housing areas (MHAs). (BAH, under 37 U.S.C. §403, provides uniformed service members a monthly housing allowance based on pay grade, dependency status, and location to cover adequate housing costs comparable to civilians of similar income.) The Secretary must select MHAs considering geographic variety, member ranks and dependency status, and economic factors (e.g., inflation, cost of living, private mortgage insurance); continue paying BAH at current rates during the study, which terminates three years after the agreement; provide annual briefings to the Armed Services Committees of the Senate and House beginning 180 days after enactment; and submit a report to those committees 120 days after termination evaluating the proposed rates and recommending any legislative improvements to BAH calculations.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, to conduct a study evaluating potential adjustments to the methods for determining monthly rates for the basic allowance for housing (BAH) for members of the uniformed services under 37 U.S.C. §403. The study must include (1) an estimate of additional costs or savings to the Department of Defense from basing BAH rates on a market analysis within a commuting area defined as a 120-minute or less round-trip driving time from a member's residence to assigned duty station; and (2) an assessment of impacts on quality of life, recruitment, and retention, particularly for members in unique geographic areas such as Montauk and Shinnecock, New York, and Nantucket, Massachusetts. The Secretary of Defense must submit a report on the study to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees not later than 180 days after the date of enactment.

This section expands eligibility for bereavement leave under 10 U.S.C. §701(l) to include the loss of a pregnancy or a stillbirth experienced by the service member or the member's spouse, in addition to the death of an immediate family member. (As background, §701(l) authorizes up to 12 days of paid leave for such qualifying events.)

This section authorizes convalescent leave under 10 U.S.C. 701(m) for academy cadets or midshipmen (i.e., cadets at the U.S. Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, or Coast Guard Academy) diagnosed with a medical condition. It revises inapplicable leave provisions to except this convalescent leave from the general exclusion of 10 U.S.C. 701, 703, and 704 for such cadets and midshipmen.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, not later than 180 days after enactment, to (1) prescribe regulations (A) exempting members of the Armed Forces taking parental leave under 10 U.S.C. 701(h)(1)(A)—which provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave following the birth or adoption of a child or placement of a minor child in long-term foster care—that exceeds 31 consecutive days from performance evaluations; and (B) authorizing such leave during the two-year period (from 12 months) beginning on the qualifying birth, adoption, or placement without requiring a waiver from the Secretary concerned; and (2) submit to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees a report on implementation.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to annually review the amount of financial assistance provided under this authority—including the maximum amount per month per child authorized for eligible providers—to civilian providers of child care or youth program services for members of the armed forces, certain survivors, and U.S. government employees. (As background, the authority allows use of operation and maintenance funds to supplement—without supplanting—such services at or near military installations, for providers licensed under state and local law that have served these populations.)

This section authorizes the Secretary concerned to waive requirements of paragraphs (1) and (3) of section 562(c) of the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Public Law 109-364; 10 U.S.C. 1482 note)—which govern air transportation of remains of deceased members of the Armed Forces (i.e., dignified transfer by aircraft to the nearest airport to the selected burial site)—as necessary to meet mission requirements during (1) a time of war; (2) a national emergency requiring significant personnel and aircraft; (3) a large-scale combat operation; or (4) a contingency operation. (Thus, the Secretaries of the military departments may prioritize aircraft and personnel for combat or emergency missions over remains transportation in specified circumstances.)

This section expands eligibility under 10 USC 1066 to use commissary stores and morale, welfare, and recreation (MWR) retail facilities to civil service mariners of the Military Sealift Command, permitting such use on the same basis as members of the armed forces on active duty. (Thus, unlike protective services civilian employees—who may purchase only food and hygiene items and are subject to a user fee—MSC civil service mariners receive full active duty access without such limitations.) It also makes conforming changes to the section and subsection (a) headings by replacing "protective services" with "certain".

This section authorizes current civilian employees of the Department of Defense (DoD) and the department in which the Coast Guard is operating—subject to section 1066 of title 10, United States Code, and a prohibition on purchasing tobacco or military uniforms—to use morale, welfare, and recreation (MWR) retail facilities (i.e., as defined in 10 U.S.C. §1063, such as exchanges and commissaries) on the same basis as members of the armed forces on active duty. The section further authorizes the same access for retired DoD and Coast Guard civilian employees, subject only to the tobacco and uniform prohibition, and directs the Secretary of Defense to prescribe implementing regulations within 30 days of enactment.

This section prohibits the Defense Commissary Agency from prohibiting the use of, or charging a fee for, single-use shopping bags in commissary stores. (Commissary stores, operated by the Defense Commissary Agency, provide groceries and household supplies at cost to eligible military personnel, retirees, and dependents.)

This section establishes a pilot program, to be carried out by the Secretary of Defense not later than September 30, 2026, to provide a nutrition rating system—indicating overall nutritional value based on nutrient density and ingredient quality—for food sold in at least 10 commissary stores (i.e., military base grocery stores serving service members, retirees, and their families) through the Commissary CLICK2GO mobile application and online platform. The Secretary may use a third-party system operated by an entity independent of food companies that employs transparent, evidence-based methodology grounded in current nutrition science and public health guidelines and that can rate at least 80% of foods available at participating stores, including single-ingredient foods, packaged goods, and mixed meals. Not later than September 30, 2028, the Secretary must submit to Congress a report on the program, including recommendations to improve the nutritional value of commissary foods; the program terminates on September 30, 2030.

This section expands the types of relocation assistance under the military relocation assistance program to include (1) in destination area information, education systems, school enrollment procedures, and State-specific provisions under the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children; (2) in settling-in services, educational resources for dependent children including school transition assistance, academic continuity, and special education services; and (3) educational planning and support services for dependent children with disabilities, including procedures for transferring individualized education programs and coordination with the Exceptional Family Member Program. The section further requires the Secretary of Defense to provide members of the armed forces and their families with specified information on relocation assistance programs and related support (e.g., family assistance under 10 U.S.C. §1788, housing options, mental health services, educational resources, and legal/financial counseling) no later than 45 days before a change of permanent station takes effect. The Secretary must incorporate this information into accessible materials, briefings, online resources, and a communication strategy at military installations; assess satisfaction with the information provided; and brief the Armed Services Committees of the Senate and House annually for four years (not later than one year after enactment and annually thereafter for three years) on implementation, awareness of programs, and recommendations for improvements. (As background, the program provides information, counseling, and services on housing, finances, and community orientation to minimize adverse effects of permanent changes of station for service members and families.)

This section expands the pilot program to increase access to food on military installations, as established by Section 654 of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118-159), by (1) authorizing the Secretary of a military department, rather than solely the Secretary of the Army, to carry out the program at installations under the Secretary's jurisdiction for members of the Armed Forces, rather than only Army installations for Army members; (2) clarifying references to the "Secretary" in subsection (b) as the Secretary of the military department concerned; and (3) replacing the existing subsection (d) with new reporting requirements, including quarterly progress reports to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives until program termination and a final report due within 90 days thereafter that assesses lessons learned, recommends whether to expand or make the program permanent (including proposed expansion sites if recommended), identifies limitations, and includes other relevant information.

This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States to review the Department of Defense casualty assistance program—which supports survivors of deceased service members with notifications, benefits, and entitlements—and submit a report with recommendations to the Secretary of Defense by January 1, 2027. The recommendations address (1) standardizing selection, management (including assignment lengths), and training of casualty assistance officers across the Armed Forces; (2) implementing a survivor registry for contact information and outreach; and (3) developing a long-term care program modeled on the Army's Survivor Outreach Services that provides benefits information, case managers, and counselors. The section further requires the Secretary, within 180 days of receiving the report, to submit the report and an implementation plan to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, not later than March 1, 2027, to submit to the congressional Armed Services Committees a report on how each military department administers military camping and recreational parks to ensure equal accessibility for all authorized users. The report must include (1) a list of such parks by location and administering department; (2) an estimate of average annual users per park, disaggregated by active-component members, reserve-component members, and veterans; (3) a list of parks allowing stays exceeding 30 days in any 90-day period; (4) a list of parks allowing full-time residency; (5) an explanation of policy differences from other Department of Defense morale, welfare, and recreation (MWR) facilities that limit stays to 30 days; and (6) a description of any additional authorities or resources needed to increase capacity and ensure equal access.

This section revises the voluntary enrollment dental plans for reserve component members by (1) establishing a separate dental benefits plan for Selected Reserve members of the Ready Reserve (previously covered under the plan in subsection (a)(1)); (2) redesignating the prior subsection (a)(1) plan for certain Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) members described in 10 U.S.C. 10144(b) and limiting it to those members; (3) updating the header of subsection (a)(2) to "Plan for individual ready other reserves" for IRR members not eligible for the subsection (a)(1) plan; (4) designating the new Selected Reserve plan as a no-premium plan under which enrolled members pay no premiums; and (5) requiring that members enrolled in the no-premium plan pay no copayments for dental care described in subsection (c) (i.e., covered services such as exams, cleanings, fillings, and extractions). (Thus, Selected Reserve members gain access to premium-free dental coverage with no copayments for specified care, improving dental readiness for this force.)

This section establishes a new section 1074p of title 10, United States Code, directing the Secretary of Defense to ensure that periodic health assessments for members of the Armed Forces, beginning in 2026, include the following: (1) on an annual basis, (A) a sports physical, (B) an electrocardiogram, and (C) blood work comprising a comprehensive metabolic panel, complete blood count, and—if necessary—a thyroid stimulating hormone test or brain natriuretic peptide test; (2) any test or evaluation required by law, including those under section 704 (pre-separation physical examinations, 10 U.S.C. 1074f note) and section 707 (blood pressure screenings, 10 U.S.C. 1074 note) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (P.L. 116-92); and (3) any other test or evaluation determined appropriate by the Secretary.

This section establishes coverage of fertility-related care—including infertility diagnosis; in vitro fertilization (limited to three completed oocyte retrievals per calendar year and single embryo transfers unless medically indicated per American Society for Reproductive Medicine guidelines); sperm and egg retrieval and preservation; artificial insemination; medications; and other reproduction-facilitating services—under TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select for active duty members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force (but not former members) and their dependents, with cost-sharing determined as for other comparable care and no waiting periods after infertility diagnosis. It prohibits use of Department of Defense funds for preimplantation genetic screening, human cloning, international surrogacy, or artificial womb technology. (TRICARE is the health care program for active duty and retired service members and their families.) This section also requires the Secretary of Defense to establish a program to coordinate such care and provide training and support to community providers on the unique needs of service members and dependents. The section makes conforming amendments to specify provision of fertility-related care per these requirements and to exclude it from certain health care contracts for former members and dependents. The amendments apply to services provided on or after October 1, 2027.

This section requires the TRICARE program to cover contraceptive supplies of up to 365 days (in a single fill or refill, at the beneficiary's option) for active duty members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force and their dependents through military treatment facility pharmacies, certain retail pharmacies, or the national mail-order pharmacy program, beginning no later than 180 days after enactment. It further directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct outreach to TRICARE providers and enrollees on this coverage beginning no later than 90 days after implementation. (TRICARE is the Department of Defense's health care program for uniformed service members, retirees, and families.)

This section establishes a five-year pilot program, beginning not later than 180 days after the date of enactment, under which (1) the referral requirement under 10 U.S.C. 1095f(a)(1) does not apply with respect to obstetrical and gynecological care for covered participants enrolled in TRICARE Prime (i.e., the managed-care option of the TRICARE program that serves uniformed service members, retirees, and their families); and (2) covered participants may elect to designate an obstetrical or gynecological care provider as an additional designated primary care manager. Covered participants are female members or dependents of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force enrolled in TRICARE Prime who elect to participate. (Thus, these enrollees gain direct access to such care without PCM referral.) The section further requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the congressional defense committees not later than four years after enactment assessing changes in TRICARE Prime enrollment and obstetrical/gynecological care costs, among other matters.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to commence, not later than one year after enactment, a five-year pilot program under the TRICARE program to provide services from covered midwives to covered individuals (i.e., members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force, and their dependents, as defined in 10 U.S.C. §1072). It authorizes the Secretary to establish a permanent program if the pilot is successful. It requires (1) an implementation plan submitted to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees within 180 days of enactment; and (2) annual reports to those committees, beginning one year after the pilot commences and continuing until one year after termination, covering total and per capita costs, number of covered individuals served, demographics (i.e., race, ethnicity, age, sex, relationship status, armed force, military occupation, and rank), effects on quality of care (including maternal and fetal outcomes, preterm and low-weight births, and cesarean section rates), patient satisfaction, access to care (including average wait and travel times), program effectiveness, estimated cost savings from improved outcomes, and recommendations on adjustments, extension, or permanence. It defines covered midwife as a certified professional midwife or certified midwife who meets International Confederation of Midwives standards for education and the definition of a midwife, as well as applicable state credentialing requirements.

This section establishes a five-year pilot program, commencing not later than 180 days after enactment, under which the Secretary of Defense treats pregnancy as a qualifying event under 10 U.S.C. §1099(b)(1)(B) for enrollment in TRICARE Select (i.e., a premium-based health plan option under the TRICARE program available to eligible retirees, certain family members, and others) by eligible beneficiaries, including members or former members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force and their dependents. Active duty members of those services may enroll under the pilot for a period ending not later than 180 days after the end of the pregnancy. The section requires (1) an initial briefing to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees one year after enactment; and (2) annual reports to the Committees for five years, beginning one year after commencement of the pilot, detailing covered enrollment changes disaggregated by month from January 2026 and by category (e.g., active duty enrollments due to pregnancy, separations from or returns to active duty).

This section establishes a pilot program, to be implemented by September 30, 2026, under which covered individuals may elect fixed indemnity supplemental insurance plans to cover noncovered cancer-related expenses (i.e., screening, diagnosis, and treatment not covered under TRICARE, the Department of Defense health care program for uniformed service members, retirees, and families). Covered individuals are members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force and their dependents (as defined in 10 U.S.C. §1072) enrolled in TRICARE. The Secretary of Defense must enter into agreements with at least two licensed and solvent companies to offer such plans for at least three years, including requirements for (1) compliance with specified regulations under 32 C.F.R. §199, (2) separate policies with no coordination of benefits, (3) negotiated terms and premiums without use of appropriated funds for subsidies, (4) eligibility verification and payroll deduction, and (5) information on the TRICARE portal about availability, enrollment, benefits, and costs. Not later than two years after commencement, the Secretary must report to the armed services committees on the plans offered, enrollment numbers, participant feedback and use cases, and a determination on making the program permanent. The program sunsets five years after enactment unless made permanent.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to provide, at no cost to Department of Defense firefighters during their annual periodic health assessments (or other specified intervals), medical testing and related services to detect, document, and prevent certain cancers, including the following: (1) Breast cancer screening for female firefighters, consisting of mammograms on a biannual basis for those 40-49 years old, annually for those 50 years old or older, or as clinically indicated, with radiologist review comparing to prior mammograms; (2) Colon cancer screening consisting of communication of risks and benefits of stool-based blood testing for those 40 years old or older; visual examinations (e.g., colonoscopy) or stool-based blood testing at regular intervals for those 45 years old or older or as clinically indicated; and physician review of results; (3) Prostate cancer screening for male firefighters, consisting of communication of risks and benefits and annual prostate-specific antigen tests for those 50 years old or older, those 40 years old or older who are high-risk individuals (e.g., African American or with a first-degree relative diagnosed at an early age), or as clinically indicated; and (4) Routine screenings for other cancers identified by the CDC Director as having higher risk or occurrence among firefighters than the general public. Firefighters may opt out of these services. The Secretary must use consensus technical standards; document acceptance and performance rates, anonymized test results to identify cancer trends, and other data for analysis; and may share data with the CDC Director to improve understanding of cancer among firefighters.

This section establishes a five-year pilot program under the TRICARE program (i.e., the Department of Defense health care program for uniformed services members, retirees, and families) under which the Secretary of Defense provides continuous glucose monitoring technology to covered active duty members to assess effects on health and force readiness. Covered members are those in the Partially Medically Ready or Not Medically Ready categories of the Individual Medical Readiness program who have prediabetes, type 2 diabetes without insulin, gestational diabetes history, or are overweight or obese; participation is required for identified members. The section further directs the Secretary to provide metabolic health information, education, and services to participants; train military medical professionals; and restrict pilot data uses to program administration, health care, and readiness (prohibiting use for medical discharges or nongovernmental retention beyond authorized purposes). Finally, the section requires (1) Comptroller General reports to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees—an initial assessment three years after commencement comparing readiness rates in 2025 and the third pilot year, with recommendations, and a final assessment five years after commencement on recommendation effectiveness and potential extension; and (2) a Department of Defense report five years after commencement on program use, efficacy, force readiness impacts, and improvement recommendations.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to notify each TRICARE covered beneficiary electronically of an upcoming TRICARE coverage transition requirement (i.e., a requirement to change TRICARE election to continue enrollment, such as due to attaining a certain age under 10 U.S.C. §§1086(d) or 1110b) at 1 year, 180 days, and 30 days prior. The section further directs the Secretary to conduct an outreach and public awareness campaign via the TRICARE website, social media, and family readiness groups and to submit annual reports to the congressional defense committees on implementation, including metrics and recommendations for improvement.

This section prohibits coverage or furnishing of gender-related medical treatment under TRICARE for members of the armed forces and their dependents, except for treatment addressing (1) a disorder of sex development in a minor diagnosed through genetic or biochemical testing confirming abnormal sex chromosome structure, sex steroid hormone production, or action; (2) irresolvably ambiguous biological sex characteristics in a minor (e.g., 46 XX chromosomes with virilization, 46 XY with undervirilization, or both ovarian and testicular tissue); or (3) an infection, injury, disease, or disorder caused or exacerbated by prior gender-related medical treatment. (TRICARE is the Department of Defense health care program serving active-duty members, retirees, and dependents.) It defines gender-related medical treatment as procedures, hormones, or puberty blockers (e.g., GnRH agonists) provided to address an individual's perception that their sex—defined biologically as male or female—is otherwise, including for females such treatments as phalloplasty, hysterectomy, or testosterone and for males such treatments as vaginoplasty, augmentation mammoplasty, or estrogen; defines gender as a synonym for biological sex; and includes a rule of construction clarifying that the prohibition does not create new entitlements to care. The section makes conforming amendments by (1) adding the prohibition to the list of noncovered treatments in 10 U.S.C. §1077(b) and (2) striking from 10 U.S.C. §1079(a)(20) the phrase "that could result in sterilization."

This section establishes the Military-Civilian Medical Surge Program as a new subsection under 10 USC 1096(e) (and updates the section heading to include "; medical surge program"). The program, overseen by the Secretary of Defense through the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, supports Secretary-selected locations and enhances the interoperability and medical surge capability and capacity of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS)—which coordinates federal medical assets for disasters—in response to a national emergency, public health emergency, declaration of war, President's exercise of War Powers Resolution authorities, or other presidentially declared emergency or major disaster. To implement the program, the Secretary must (1) maintain requirements for staffing, specialized training, research, and education on patient regulation, movement, definitive care, and related matters to sustain armed forces health; (2) establish partnerships at not fewer than eight operationally relevant U.S. aeromedical, transport hub, or logistics center locations (with authority to select additional sites, including outside the continental United States) with proficient public, private, nonprofit, academic, or hospital entities to enable rapid civilian medical support to military treatment facilities; and (3) collaborate with the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, and Transportation, and the FEMA Administrator, who must jointly issue an interagency operations plan by December 31, 2026. Beginning July 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Defense must submit reports to specified congressional committees on the program's status, readiness, personnel, resources, interagency coordination, and improvement recommendations. The section authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Defense from amounts specified in sections 1405 and 4501.

This section lowers the specialty care distance threshold for mandatory travel and transportation reimbursement under 10 U.S.C. 1074i to 50 miles (from 100 miles) for members of the armed forces on active duty and their dependents referred by a primary care physician. (Thus, such members and dependents qualify for reimbursement—including for an accompanying adult when necessary—when the provider is more than 50 miles away, while other covered beneficiaries retain the 100-mile threshold.)

This section establishes an annual payment adjustment for certain children's hospitals providing outpatient services to TRICARE beneficiaries (i.e., active duty service members and their dependents) under the TRICARE outpatient payment system, which reimburses hospitals using the Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS). The adjustment equals 30% of OPPS payments made to the hospital for such services in the applicable year and applies if the hospital meets one or more criteria: (1) at least 10% of its revenue derives from TRICARE services; (2) it had at least 10,000 paid TRICARE visits; or (3) the Secretary of Defense deems it essential to TRICARE operations. (Thus, qualifying hospitals receive a 30% add-on atop standard OPPS reimbursements.) The section further directs the Secretary of Defense to develop a payment methodology and issue separate joint regulations for these adjustments.

This section revises the responsibility for ensuring health care professionals at Department of Defense (DoD) facilities meet licensure requirements under 10 U.S.C. §1094(a) by assigning it to the Secretary of Defense (previously to each facility's commanding officer) and requiring establishment of a centralized credentialing system. The system must enable commanding officers to verify licensure regardless of facility location or armed force served and ensure that not less than 90% of verifications for professionals without adverse records are completed within seven days of request.

This section expands the entities authorized to verify licensure of health-care professionals providing services under Department of Defense (DoD) personal services contracts to include official agencies of partner countries—(1) Australia, (2) Canada, (3) New Zealand, (4) United Kingdom, or (5) any other country designated by the Secretary of Defense—and defines the term “partner country.” (As background, 10 U.S.C. §1094 governs DoD personal services contracts with licensed health-care professionals for care at military treatment facilities and other locations.)

This section extends the temporary modification of the limitation on reductions in military medical end strength under 10 U.S.C. 129c(a)–(d)—which generally prohibits the Department of Defense from reducing such personnel below 95% of the prior fiscal year's level or 90% of the level three fiscal years prior without a congressional certification—from a five-year period to a 10-year period. It further revises associated reporting and briefing requirements in subsection (c) of Section 741 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (P.L. 117-263) as follows: (1) requiring the report under paragraph (2) during each of 2024 and 2029 (from not later than two years after enactment); and (2) requiring the briefings under paragraphs (3) and (4) by December 31, 2030 (from three years after enactment).

This section prohibits the Secretary of Defense from conducting or supporting painful research (i.e., USDA pain categories D or E) on domestic cats or dogs, except for physical exams, training programs, or studies relating to service animals or military animals. The Secretary may waive the prohibition on a case-by-case basis if determined to be in the national security interests of the United States, requiring notification to the congressional defense committees within 30 days that includes the funding account and amount, intended purpose, recipient, national security explanation, and other relevant information.

This section establishes a pilot program, to be carried out by the Secretary of Defense through the Director of the Defense Health Agency not later than 90 days after enactment, to test and evaluate existing standalone technologies to assess whether such technologies (1) improve efficiencies in medical supply-chain management and military medical readiness, (2) streamline medical processes, (3) improve recordation accuracy, (4) reduce rates of needlestick injury, and (5) enhance retention rates of military health care providers. The pilot program runs for a five-year period.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, not later than one year after enactment, to ensure continuous availability at each military medical treatment facility (MMTF) of at least one qualified sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE)—a registered nurse specially trained in forensic examinations and evidence collection for sexual assault survivors—to provide services 24 hours per day. The Secretary may meet this requirement through contracts or agreements with private providers, provided the SANE is on call 24/7 and arrives at the facility within two hours; is located within 25 road miles or a 30-minute emergency response time; and meets or exceeds Department of Defense credentialing, training, and certification standards. Not later than one year after enactment, the Secretary must issue updated policy guidance, including standard contract language, and submit to the Armed Services Committees a report on MMTF SANE staffing status, contracts entered, average response times and coverage gaps in the prior year, and plans to address shortfalls. (MMTFs, administered by the Defense Health Agency under 10 U.S.C. §1073c, deliver health care to service members, retirees, and families.)

This section directs the Director of the Defense Health Agency, in coordination with specified officials, to develop within 180 days of enactment comprehensive written guidance establishing uniform protocols for screening patients at military medical treatment facilities for unwanted sexual behavior (i.e., using standardized, evidence-based questions to detect non-consensual sexual contact or conduct, including harassment, coercion, assault, or abuse). Within one year of issuing the guidance, the Director must submit to the congressional defense committees a report assessing (1) implementation at each facility, (2) aggregate de-identified data on screening rates, positive-screen rates, and referral follow-through, and (3) any planned revisions to the guidance.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to furnish sexual assault forensic examinations at military medical treatment facilities—including those outside the United States—to Department of Defense civilian employees and contractors following an allegation of sexual assault, regardless of eligibility for health care under 10 U.S.C. chapter 55. It makes conforming changes to sec. 1725(b)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113-66) by broadening references to a "patient of the facility" and the "patient's need" to include such individuals.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to provide mandatory training to each Department of Defense health care provider on the potential health effects of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to issue regulations, policies, and procedures mandating wellness checks for members of the Armed Forces following significant injuries or illnesses or sick call, progressing from electronic or telephone contact to in-person if needed, with referral to missing, absent-unknown, absent-without-leave, or duty-status-whereabouts-unknown procedures if the member cannot be located. The section further requires unit commanders to coordinate with assigned judge advocates for implementation; routinely review and ensure issuance, three-year updates, relevance to significant medical or safety issues, and distribution of the document titled “Commander's Critical Information Requirements” (dated January 2020 or successor); and host confidential wellness meetings with subordinate commanders and medical officers to discuss significant injuries or illnesses. Additionally, the section directs each Secretary concerned, and the Secretary of Defense for DoD civilian personnel, to develop and implement training courses on health and welfare accountability—including wellness checks and risks of procedural failures—at leadership and supervisor trainings for all service members and relevant civilians.

This section extends the notice and wait period for proposed restructuring, realignment, or modification to military medical treatment facilities to one year (from 180 days).

This section establishes an annual reporting requirement by inserting a new subsection (d) in 10 U.S.C. §1079b (and redesignating existing subsection (e) as (f)), under which the Secretary of Defense must submit to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, and publish on the Department of Defense website, the following facility-specific data for the prior year: (1) total fees owed by civilians for trauma and medical care; (2) number of civilians who received such care; (3) number who received waivers under subsection (b) and average fees waived; and (4) number who received fee reductions under subsection (c) and average fees remaining after reductions.

This section establishes a new section 1100a of title 10, United States Code, authorizing the Director of the Defense Health Agency, subject to appropriations, to obligate or expend funds from the Defense Health Program account and the Operation and Maintenance, Army account for medical readiness to (1) procure or preposition medical countermeasures (i.e., vaccines, therapeutics, prophylactics, diagnostics, or advanced wound care products such as silver-plated bandages) for forward deployment; (2) forward-deploy such countermeasures; and (3) conduct associated logistics, storage, or sustainment activities to ensure their availability and readiness for deployed forces across all roles of medical care (as defined in Joint Publication 4-02). The Director must coordinate such obligations or expenditures with the Secretaries of the military departments and combatant commanders. This section also requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, not later than 120 days after enactment and annually thereafter for three years, a report on (1) categories of medical countermeasures procured and forward-deployed using such funds; (2) locations supported; and (3) gaps or shortfalls in providing such countermeasures to deployed forces.

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense to enter into bilateral or multilateral memoranda of understanding or other formal agreements with the governments of the Five Eyes countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom) to support military medical cooperation or improve operational medical interoperability. Military medical cooperation includes information exchange; medical interoperability (including credentialing of health care personnel); medical education, training, exercises, and evaluation; medical research, development, trials, and evaluation; biodefense (including prevention, preparation, response, and investigation); medical logistics (including recognition of medical countermeasures (MedCM), drugs, and equipment); patient movement; and other areas designated by the Secretary. Military medicine includes combat casualty care (including trauma); military infectious disease; chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear medical support; deployed health care delivery; public health, health readiness, and force health protection; mental health; humanitarian response; anomalous health incidents; mass casualty management; and other areas designated by the Secretary.

This section amends Section 735 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117-263; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note)—which requires the Department of Defense to develop and implement strategies for preventing and treating traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and related behavioral health conditions among service members—by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections (f) and (g), respectively, and by inserting a new subsection (e). The new subsection directs the Secretary of Defense, as part of the required TBI initiative, to establish a working group—composed of Armed Forces members, Department civilian employees, and non-federal experts in TBI clinical care, biomedical informatics, engineering, or implementation science—to develop a strategy for treating TBIs through digital health technologies. The strategy must include (1) identification of capability gaps addressable by artificial intelligence (AI) and digital health technologies; (2) analysis of existing research, development, acquisition efforts, and commercial off-the-shelf solutions; (3) recommendations for advances to address gaps and improve TBI treatment; and (4) an investment plan to advance technology and knowledge readiness levels. Not later than one year after enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, the Secretary must brief the House and Senate Armed Services Committees on the strategy.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment, a report containing a study on whether, and to what extent, active duty pilots suffer traumatic brain injury from the cumulative effects of high-speed maneuvers, catapult launches, and other repetitive actions. The report must include (1) the study's results, (2) a summary of existing Department of Defense policies and procedures for identifying, documenting, and treating mild, moderate, and severe traumatic brain injury among pilots, (3) a strategy to better identify, document, and treat such injuries among pilots, and (4) recommendations for potential regulatory and legislative actions.

This section directs the Director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA), in coordination with the Directors of the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute, to conduct a two-phase study on cancer prevalence and mortality among covered individuals—members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force who served on or after February 28, 1961, as rotary-wing aircraft aircrew (pilots or support personnel) and receive health care under 10 U.S.C. chapter 55—compared to similarly aged individuals in the general population. (1) In the initial phase, DHA must determine increased prevalence or mortality from 13 specified cancers (brain, breast [for females], colon and rectal, kidney, lung, melanoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, testicular, urinary bladder, and cervical), using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program of the National Cancer Institute, a study under section 750 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, and other relevant military department studies; DHA must report findings to the armed services and veterans' affairs committees of Congress within one year of enactment. (2) If the initial phase identifies increases, DHA must conduct a second phase to identify associated carcinogenic toxins or hazards (e.g., aircraft fumes, fuels, non-ionizing radiation from radars, burn pits, contaminated water, or soil toxins), service locations, and unrelated duties; format data consistent with SEER (disaggregated by race, gender, and age); and report findings to the committees within one year after the initial report.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, not later than 180 days after enactment, to conduct a five-year longitudinal study on the evaluation and treatment of traumatic brain injuries and other injuries among special operations forces members to provide analyses, findings, and recommendations for extending their health span. The study must evaluate exposure factors (e.g., environmental, injury, disease); identify biomarkers for injury and outcomes; analyze mitigation, resilience, and outcome factors; identify pre- and post-service health issues and early aging factors; and include other elements as determined appropriate by the Secretary. This section requires progress reports to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees beginning 90 days after study commencement and annually thereafter, as well as a final report with specified findings and recommendations (e.g., health trajectories, modifiable factors, integration of pre-service health data into care scores) not later than 180 days after study completion.

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense to carry out a three-year pilot program at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to (1) evaluate the efficacy of fish skin regeneration products in treating burn and blast injuries of Armed Forces members and (2) assess the clinical outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and potential benefits for long-term recovery and military readiness of such products. The Secretary must submit annual reports on the pilot program to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, beginning one year after commencement.

This section establishes a pilot program, to be implemented by the Defense Health Agency not later than 180 days after enactment, to provide remote blood pressure monitoring devices and education to at-risk pregnant and postpartum TRICARE beneficiaries (i.e., eligible family members and dependents of uniformed service members) at selected military medical treatment facilities, modeled on the Health Resources and Services Administration's Healthy Start blood pressure self-monitoring pilot, in order to increase early detection of pregnancy- and postpartum-related hypertensive disorders. The program must operate at a minimum of two facilities each for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force, with sites selected for geographic diversity (rural and urban) and priority given to those with high obstetric volumes or maternal health program experience; participation is voluntary for eligible beneficiaries determined at risk per evidence-based standards, using primary care and obstetric providers and including FDA-approved monitors validated for pregnancy use (with adjustable cuffs and remote data transmission capability) plus provider guidance and patient education. The pilot terminates five years after establishment, after which the Secretary must submit a report to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees—and publish it on the Defense Department website—detailing participant numbers and metrics (disaggregated by Armed Force, sex, age, race, and ethnicity), device usage and barriers, concerning readings and follow-up care rates, provider and participant feedback percentages, and recommendations on continuation, expansion, or permanence.

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense to carry out, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment, a one-year pilot program to provide covered members of the Armed Forces—defined as active duty members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force who smoke at least one cigarette or other combustible tobacco product per week—with alternatives to smoking, including counseling; nicotine gum; nicotine patches; electric nicotine delivery systems; nicotine pouches; and heat-not-burn products. The pilot program must operate in at least one such Armed Force and at least one military installation where covered members exceed the national average for (1) smoking cigarettes or other combustible tobacco products and (2) populations of Black Americans, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Appalachian Americans. Not later than one year after the pilot program's termination, the Secretary must submit to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees a report assessing whether the program helped covered members stop smoking, identifying the most effective alternatives, describing gaps in health care services for the specified populations, and recommending whether to expand, extend, or make the program permanent.

This section establishes a pilot program, to commence not later than 180 days after enactment, under which members of at least one selected armed force who are on active duty and participating in the Transition Assistance Program (TAP)—a Department of Defense program providing separation counseling, employment assistance, and other transition services—may use a secure, mobile personal health record platform to collect medical records before separating from active duty. The Secretary of Defense must issue a competitive request for proposals for such a platform within 60 days of enactment and award a contract within 120 days if acceptable offers are received; the pilot must run for at least one year, after which the Secretary may terminate, continue, expand, or implement it Department-wide. No additional funds are authorized; the program uses existing Department of Defense appropriations.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to submit to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, a report assessing the feasibility and advisability of transitioning the TRICARE program's contractor-operated mail-order pharmacy—a service for uniformed service members, retirees, and their families (as defined in 10 U.S.C. 1072)—to a mail-order service operated directly by the Department of Defense. The report must analyze (1) costs, including administrative costs, dispensing fees, and overhead; (2) structure and staffing; (3) effects on TRICARE beneficiaries, including delivery times and quality; and (4) the feasibility and advisability of combining TRICARE mail-order pharmacy functions with those of the Veterans Health Administration.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments and the Director of the Defense Health Agency, to develop a strategic plan to address suicide by members of the Armed Forces and mental health services provided to such members. The plan must include (1) uniform protocols for the self-initiated referral process for mental health evaluations under 10 U.S.C. §1090b(e)—encompassing related regulations and awareness efforts via workplace posters, flyers, and advertisements—and (2) standardized mental health training for Armed Forces members that provides specialized instruction for commanders, senior enlisted leaders, and medical personnel on identifying and addressing mental health concerns; establishes a certification process with documented proof of compliance; covers responses to self-initiated referrals under such section; and teaches recognition of signs of mental health distress.

This section directs the Inspector General of the Department of Defense to conduct a study on the implementation of military dental treatment facility accreditation requirements under section 744(b)(4) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (P.L. 116-283; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note). The study must (1) identify the number and percentage of non-accredited facilities, (2) analyze barriers to accreditation, (3) assess necessary resources, (4) estimate compliance costs, and (5) recommend actions for full implementation; not later than one year after enactment, the Inspector General must submit a report to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees with the study's findings, a compliance plan, and recommendations for additional resources or legislative authority.

This section requires the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, acting through the Director of the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment, an assessment of whether gamma radiation-shielding personal protective equipment (PPE) targeted at protecting bone marrow is likely to reduce the risk of acute radiation syndrome (ARS)—a potentially fatal condition from high-dose radiation exposure—by mitigating radiation-induced health effects, improving survivability in high-dose environments, or both. If the assessment is affirmative, the section further requires the Secretary of Defense to develop, not later than one year after enactment, requirements and an acquisition plan for procuring, prepositioning, and maintaining such PPE for covered personnel (i.e., (1) Armed Forces members deployed inside or outside the United States; (2) DoD civilian employees deployed outside the United States; and (3) DoD civilian employees and Armed Forces members in the National Capital Region responsible for chemical, biological, and nuclear defense missions). In developing the program, the Secretary must (1) establish requirements for procurement, prepositioning, and maintenance of bone marrow-protecting PPE; (2) prepare an acquisition plan including estimated costs; and (3) consider, in coordination with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and combatant command commanders, the number of covered personnel in tactical nuclear threat areas or nuclear reactor emergency zones, DoD operational requirements, doctrine/training/operational plans, an implementation schedule, and complementary medical countermeasures under sec. 734 of the FY2025 NDAA.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, not later than 270 days after the date of enactment, to (1) conduct supply chain risk assessments across the Defense Health Agency and relevant Department of Defense acquisition offices to determine the origin of covered items (i.e., pharmaceuticals, active pharmaceutical ingredients, personal protective equipment, medical devices, and medical diagnostic equipment used by the Department); and (2) develop and maintain a prioritized list, which may be classified, of high-risk critical medical products (i.e., covered items essential to national defense, force health protection, or continuity of operations) that rely on covered items originating from the People's Republic of China. The assessments must include identification and prioritization of critical medical products; evaluation of dependencies on Chinese inputs and vulnerabilities to supply chain disruptions during war, national emergency, or public health crisis; assessment of domestic manufacturing capacity, including gaps and single points of failure; identification of design, manufacturing, and packaging facility locations; and evaluation of dependencies in deployable medical units, military medical treatment facilities, and medical logistics systems. Not later than 180 days after the initial assessment and annually thereafter, the Secretary must submit to the congressional defense committees a report— which may be classified—detailing findings from the high-risk list, strategies to strengthen stockpiles and readiness contracts, and recommendations to reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains, including procurement policy revisions, alternative sourcing, domestic manufacturing expansion, and incentives for U.S.-based production.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of the Navy, to assess the adequacy of health care services available to military and civilian personnel at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. Not later than 60 days after enactment, the Secretary of Defense must submit a report to the congressional defense committees containing (1) a description of challenges to providing such services through the military health system or private sector—including insufficient funding or authority, inaccessibility, and shortages of emergency or specialized providers—and any potential effects on the installation's mission; (2) recommendations for legislative proposals to improve service adequacy; and (3) a plan to address such challenges or mitigate effects.

This section directs the Secretary of each military department (i.e., Army, Navy, and Air Force) to review and update, as necessary, suicide prevention and behavioral health information—including contact details for related resources—published on military department websites at the installation level, and to certify its accuracy to the congressional defense committees, by August 1, 2027.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct a comprehensive study on the psychological effects and mental health impacts of combat remotely piloted aircraft operations on members of the Armed Forces and other personnel engaged in such operations. The study must assess (1) the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, burnout, moral injury, and other mental health conditions among drone pilots, operators, and imagery analysts; (2) mental health outcomes compared to crewed aircrew and non-flying combat personnel; (3) unique operational stressors such as shift work, remote witnessing of lethal operations, emotional isolation, and exposure to civilian casualties; (4) the adequacy of existing Department of Defense mental health services; and (5) recommendations to improve screening, treatment, and prevention. In conducting the study, the Secretary must consult the Surgeons General of the Armed Forces, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, the Defense Health Agency, Department of Veterans Affairs behavioral health experts, and relevant scientific institutions. Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment, the Secretary must submit an unclassified report on the study's results and recommendations to the congressional Armed Services Committees.

This section establishes a two-year pilot program, to commence not later than 120 days after the date of enactment, under which the Secretary of Defense (1) pre-downloads the Virtual Hope Box application of the Defense Health Agency (or successor application) on covered devices issued to members of the Armed Forces, (2) pre-programs the National Suicide Hotline number and Veterans Crisis Line number into the contacts of such devices, and (3) provides training on these resources as part of DOD suicide awareness and prevention training. The Secretary shall determine the program's scope to represent each armed force with a relevant sample size; coordinate with the Director of the Defense Health Agency and Secretary of Veterans Affairs to identify additional technology-related resources; and submit a report to the Armed Services Committees of the House of Representatives and Senate within 30 days after the program's termination, including recommendations for expanding future pilots to members without covered devices. In this section, covered device means a smart device (including a mobile phone) issued by the Secretary of Defense or Secretary of an armed force.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct an updated study on opioid prescribing practices to ensure that medication-prescribing health professionals across the military health system conform to (1) Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs clinical practice guidelines and (2) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration prescribing guidelines.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment, a report on the timeliness of providing separating members of the Armed Forces with copies of their electronic health records during the one-year period preceding the report. The report must include (1) the average number of days following separation for a member to receive such records, (2) the maximum number of days any member waited, and (3) explanations for delays. This section also requires the Secretary to establish standards ensuring separating members receive their electronic health records within a reasonable period.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than two years after the date of enactment, a study on the TRICARE contract transition (i.e., the transition to a new contract for administration of the TRICARE program in the West region occurring on January 1, 2025). The study must include (1) the effects of the transition on members of the Armed Forces, covered beneficiaries (as defined in 10 U.S.C. 1072), and health care providers in the West region; (2) the average time for such members and beneficiaries to resolve transition-related issues; and (3) Department of Defense and TRICARE preparation for and communication about the transition.

This section directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, in consultation with the Surgeons General of the Armed Services and other relevant DoD organizations, to assess the use of oculometric biomarker monitoring technologies (i.e., eye-tracking systems to evaluate brain health indicators such as fatigue, stress, traumatic brain injury, substance use disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder) for DoD missions. The assessment must address (1) anticipated mid- and long-term utility for human performance, military readiness, and operational effectiveness; (2) detection capabilities in servicemembers, including deployed settings; (3) effectiveness in reducing operational risk and enhancing cognitive resilience; (4) role in early detection, recovery monitoring, and tailored rehabilitation for active-duty personnel and veterans; (5) potential to improve mission readiness via real-time feedback; (6) ability to reduce attrition and enhance decision-making under stress; (7) integration opportunities with existing DoD systems; (8) protection against performance degradation; (9) contributions to allied capacity building; (10) outcomes of existing DoD-funded trials with the Air Force, Army, and NASA; and (11) gaps requiring further research. Not later than March 1, 2026, the Under Secretary must submit to the appropriate congressional committees an unclassified report (with a possible classified annex) containing the assessment and recommendations on optimal use, including device deployment expansion, additional operational trials, and integration of cognitive health metrics into DoD reporting systems.

This section directs the Director of the Defense Health Agency to develop a plan to—(1) reopen any chiropractic clinic at a military installation that offered such services prior to enactment but was closed; and (2) pay chiropractors stationed at military installations under the General Schedule. The Director must submit a report on the plan to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees not later than March 31, 2026.

This section establishes mandatory multiyear procurement authority, subject to 10 U.S.C. §3501, requiring the Secretary of Defense to enter into one or more multiyear contracts for a covered weapon system once a decision is made to move it to full-rate production projected to continue for five or more consecutive years. The Secretary may waive this requirement if the projected threat environment changes such that procurement is no longer necessary. The authority applies to multiyear contracts entered into on or after the date of enactment. In this section, the term *covered weapon system* means a major weapon system (as defined in 10 U.S.C. §3455) (1) for which budget justification documents under 10 U.S.C. §4205 state that procurement at the most effective production rate will require 36 months or more to acquire the total quantity of units and (2) estimated to require more than $1 billion in total procurement expenditures, including all planned increments or spirals (in FY2025 constant dollars).

This section establishes a new defense under 10 U.S.C. 3706(c)(5) against Department of Defense recovery of contract overpayments attributable to defective certified cost or pricing data if updates to such data—submitted by prime contractors or subcontractors after contract (or modification) price agreement, or another date consistent with subsection (a)(2)—are based on data more than 30 days old. (As background, 10 U.S.C. 3706 requires submission and certification of current, accurate, and complete cost or pricing data prior to price agreement on certain negotiated DoD contracts exceeding the $2 million threshold to ensure the government pays fair and reasonable prices.)

This section establishes a reporting requirement for offerors on covered Department of Defense contracts (i.e., those awarded using non-competitive procedures under 10 U.S.C. §3204 or FAR §6.302), directing them to report to the relevant contracting officer within 30 days after becoming aware that the price of a product or service reaches or exceeds (1) 25% more than the contract bid price; (2) 25% more than the price the government paid for it in the preceding calendar year; or (3) 50% more than the price the government paid at any time in the prior five years. For noncompliance, the Director of the Defense Contract Audit Agency or relevant service acquisition executive must enter specified information about the offeror and product or service—including its National Stock Number, order quantity, unit cost, total cost, purchasing entity, and order date—into the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) or successor system. (Thus, such entries may adversely affect the offeror's future eligibility for federal contracts.)

This section establishes requirements prohibiting the Department of Defense (DoD) from requiring contractors to assume risk of loss for work in process (i.e., products in production or manufacture not yet accepted by the government) under covered contracts—defined as classified fixed-price contracts for DoD product acquisition entered after enactment—if the risk is uninsurable from commercial providers due to the classified nature of performance. Such prohibition does not apply to losses occurring outside the contract performance period or resulting from contractor gross misconduct. (Thus, DoD must revise the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement within 120 days of enactment to implement these requirements.)

This section establishes requirements in new 10 U.S.C. §4604 for Department of Defense contracts and agreements referencing external documents (i.e., documents external to the contract that contain or affect material terms or otherwise modify required performance). Such contracts must include notations specifying the applicable version of each external document and indicating any changes made after solicitation issuance; absent notation, the version in effect at solicitation issuance applies. The requirements apply only to contracts entered into after enactment.

This section revises Nunn-McCurdy cost oversight for major defense acquisition programs (MDAPs) (i.e., DoD programs with research, development, test, and evaluation costs exceeding $523.1 million or procurement costs exceeding $3.044 billion, in FY2023 dollars) as follows: (1) in 10 U.S.C. §4374, it requires service acquisition executives to determine whether program acquisition unit costs or procurement unit costs (for applicable programs) have breached significant (15%) or critical (typically 25% or 30%) cost growth thresholds within 30 days after receiving unit cost reports (previously upon submission) and requires the Secretary concerned to notify Congress within 30 days after making such a determination (from 45 days after quarter-end or report date); (2) in 10 U.S.C. §4203(a)(1), it requires the Secretary of Defense to designate as major subprograms any two or more end items within an MDAP with estimated lifecycle research, development, test, evaluation, operations, and support costs exceeding $500 million each; (3) in 10 U.S.C. §4214(a)(2), it requires operations and support cost estimates to cover the full lifecycle of MDAPs and designated major subprograms; and (4) in 10 U.S.C. §4376, it prohibits the Secretary from delegating the written certification required to continue a program after a critical cost growth breach and requires consideration of termination plans maximizing value of obligated funds (e.g., immediate termination; completion of already-funded or resale-profitable end items; or other value-maximizing actions).

This section establishes a contested logistics exercise requirement under Section 842 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (P.L. 118-31; 10 U.S.C. 2341 note)—which authorizes a pilot program building on 10 U.S.C. §2341 (authority for the Department of Defense to acquire logistic support, supplies, and services from NATO members and certain non-NATO allies for U.S. forces deployed abroad)—by directing the Secretary of Defense to require the Secretaries of the Navy and the Air Force to incorporate the Program's requirements into the Air Force's Return of Forces to the Pacific exercise and the Navy's Rim of the Pacific exercise. In executing this directive and in consultation with any covered nation participating in such an exercise, the Secretary concerned must evaluate (1) operational scenarios requiring greater military collaboration on logistics using contracting processes, operational contract support, acquisitions and cross-servicing agreements, and prepositioned assets to maximize deterrence and readiness; (2) barriers to and opportunities for joint sustainment of commonly operated weapons systems, including maintenance agreements, parts sharing, and tactical maintenance and supply interoperability; (3) weapons system maintenance in austere environments and associated transportation requirements; and (4) policies, statutes, and technical requirements impeding sustainment integration among participating nations. The requirement terminates on the date specified in subsection (g).

This section establishes the allowability and allocability of covered financing costs (i.e., interest on debt, bond discounts, or costs of financing and refinancing capital) as direct or indirect costs under covered contracts entered into by the Secretary of Defense using priorities and allocations authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4501 et seq.), including for export, if such costs are reasonable, consistent with prevailing market rates, and incurred from a covered financing entity (i.e., an independent entity that regularly extends credit, loans, or other financing). Covered contracts support covered activities (i.e., managing or improving inventory of products or components for a covered program; materially expanding production, sustainment, or maintenance capacity through capital expenditures; or other purposes identified by the Secretary) for covered programs (i.e., title 10, U.S. Code, programs for production and sustainment of naval combatant surface ships and submarines, air defense capabilities, munitions, aircraft, land systems, combat vehicles, or other capabilities designated by the Secretary). It further directs that Department of Defense Supplement to the Federal Acquisition Regulation requirements otherwise applicable to such contracts or subcontracts do not apply to agreements with covered financing entities and limits total government liability upon termination of a covered contract to the amount of funding obligated at that time, with payments subject to availability of appropriations.

This section directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to issue regulations within 90 days of enactment requiring the Department of Defense to prioritize acquisition of boron—including in goods and services acquired by the department—from U.S. domestic supply chains. The Under Secretary must ensure these procedures support development of such supply chains (defined as those composed entirely of U.S. entities and facilities) to meet DoD needs.

This section establishes Schedule V, a standardized annual disclosure schedule for veteran employment, retention, and philanthropy, to be required as a condition of award in Department of Defense (DoD) contracts or subcontracts exceeding $5 million annually with DoD or entities having annual revenue of $1 billion or more, and in DoD grants exceeding $10 million annually to institutions of higher education or research entities. (Thus, disclosures promote long-term Armed Forces recruitment and retention by tracking contractor and grantee support for veterans.) Required disclosures include (1) veteran hiring numbers for the prior three years, retention rates at 12 and 24 months post-hire, and a summary of retention initiatives; (2) existence of a corporate philanthropy program, total prior-year philanthropic giving, the amount and percentage allocated to military and veteran causes, and volunteer hours for such causes; and (3) a narrative on Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors involvement in these efforts. The Secretary of Defense must apply requirements to indirect suppliers and subcontractors exceeding $5 million or with $1 billion annual revenue (to the extent practicable); make disclosures publicly available via the Federal Procurement Data System or a designated database; and issue implementing regulations within 180 days of enactment, which may include small business exemptions and pilot programs.

This section revises rules for progress payments under defense contracts over $25,000 by eliminating the prior 80% limit on such payments prior to contract definitization (previously in 10 U.S.C. 3804(b)) and requiring a 5% increase in applicable payment rates under 10 U.S.C. 3801 if an undefinitized contractual action (UCA)—typically used by DoD for urgent acquisitions where terms are not fully defined at award—is not definitized within 180 days of the contractor's qualifying proposal (without additional contractor consideration). It also expands allowable profit considerations for UCAs under 10 U.S.C. 3374(a) to include (1) contractor cost risks for pre-award costs that align with government acquisition strategy timelines and price targets and would otherwise be directly chargeable, and (2) cost risks from negotiations exceeding 180 days after a qualifying proposal. Finally, this section directs the Secretary of Defense to revise the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement within 120 days of enactment to implement these changes.

This section modifies award amounts for the program to accelerate the procurement and fielding of innovative technologies by establishing a minimum of $10 million (previously none) and striking “Maximum” from the subsection heading.

This section establishes reporting requirements for each use of other transaction authority under 10 USC 4021 (i.e., authority for the Secretary of Defense and military departments to enter into transactions other than contracts, cooperative agreements, or grants to carry out basic, applied, and advanced research projects). The Secretary of Defense must ensure such uses are reported in the same manner as other similar DoD expenditures and included on the searchable website established under the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 USC 6101 note).

This section (1) repeals subsection (e) of 10 U.S.C. §4506, and (2) in subsection (f), strikes paragraphs (1) and (2) and redesignates paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively. Subsection (e) and subsection (f) paragraphs (1) and (2) of §4506 relate to Department of Defense requirements for standard guidelines, data improvement plans, and related reporting on services contracts.

This section establishes small purchase exceptions to three Department of Defense domestic sourcing restrictions on specialty metals (10 U.S.C. 4863), sensitive materials from non-allied foreign nations (10 U.S.C. 4872), and printed circuit boards (10 U.S.C. 4873). For specialty metals and sensitive materials, it exempts acquisitions up to $250,000 (prohibiting division of larger procurements to qualify) and authorizes the Secretary of Defense to adjust the threshold for inflation every five years (i.e., October 1 of years evenly divisible by five), effective upon Federal Register notice; for printed circuit boards, it sets a comparable $10,000 exemption with the same anti-splitting and adjustment provisions.

This section expands the definition of covered material—currently limited to specific minerals and metals such as tungsten, tungsten alloys 50% or more tungsten by weight, and certain rare earth elements and magnets melted or produced in covered nations (i.e., China, Russia, Iran, North Korea)—to include any other mineral, material, substrate, metal, or alloy designated by the Secretary of Defense as in the national security interest (adding new 10 U.S.C. §4872(h)(1)(F)). (As background, 10 U.S.C. §4872 generally prohibits DoD from procuring such covered materials or end items containing them from covered nations, or selling National Defense Stockpile materials to them, to promote secure domestic supply chains for defense-critical items.) It further establishes a process for such designations, requiring the Secretary to notify congressional defense committees at least 30 days before Federal Register publication, with the designation effective one year after publication and committee notification and applying only to contracts entered into thereafter (new subsection (f)).

This section enhances the Government Accountability Office (GAO) bid protest process for Department of Defense (DOD) procurements by (1) directing the Secretary of Defense, not later than 180 days after enactment, to revise the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement to establish procedures for contracting officers to file claims—under the Contract Disputes Act (ch. 71 of title 41, U.S. Code)—against incumbent contractors that file a covered bid protest (i.e., one dismissed by GAO for lack of reasonable legal or factual basis and finally determined), with remedies limited to disgorgement of profits and fees earned during the disgorgement period (i.e., the performance period under the incumbent's contract extended due to the protest stay under 31 U.S.C. 3553(c)), and directing recovered amounts to be credited to the original funding account; and (2) amending 31 U.S.C. 3553 to (A) revise the standard for a DOD procuring activity head to override the automatic stay on contract award during a protest from requiring the award to be likely within 30 days to determining that contract performance would facilitate the national defense, and (B) prohibit a DOD contracting officer from suspending contract performance during a protest if performance would facilitate the national defense. (GAO bid protests by interested parties, including incumbents, automatically stay federal contract awards pending GAO's decision, subject to override exceptions.)

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, a report on the use of follow-on production contracts or transactions under 10 U.S.C. §4022 (other transaction authority for prototype projects) during the period from October 1, 2020, to October 1, 2025. The report must include (1) the number of prototype project transactions awarded under that authority; (2) the number of such transactions for which a follow-on production option was awarded; (3) for each follow-on contract or transaction, a summary of its current status, contractor performance, and total value; (4) an assessment of trends or lessons learned that limit or prevent follow-on use; and (5) recommendations to improve such use and increase prototype transitions to production.

This section applies the documentation and oversight requirements of 10 U.S.C. §4204(e) to projects conducted through other transaction authority (i.e., transactions other than contracts, cooperative agreements, or grants under 10 U.S.C. §§4021 or 4022) that qualify as major defense acquisition programs (as defined in 10 U.S.C. §4201). (As background, other transaction authority enables the Department of Defense to pursue rapid prototyping and production outside traditional Federal Acquisition Regulation-based contracting.)

This section prohibits the use of funds provided by this Act to acquire any information or communication technology—including computers, printers, and video conferencing equipment—from an entity (1) in which the People's Republic of China has substantial ownership or controlling interest, directly or indirectly; (2) that is a subsidiary or affiliate of such an entity; or (3) that is organized under the laws of, or located in, the People's Republic of China and subject to any law mandating cooperation with a national defense or intelligence agency or organization of the People's Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party's People's Liberation Army.

This section (1) amends sec. 806(c) of the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (10 U.S.C. 3241 note prec.) by striking “, dated March 8, 1995” from the reference defining conventional ammunition; and (2) directs the Secretary of Defense, not later than 180 days after enactment, to revise Department of Defense Directive 5160.65 to expand the definition of conventional ammunition management to include one-way lethal or non-lethal armed or attack unmanned aerial vehicle/systems (UAV/UAS).

This section prohibits the Secretary of Defense from acquiring, or entering into, extending, or renewing a contract for, any equipment, system, or service that uses covered distributed ledger technology and blockchain equipment or services—produced by or originating from a foreign adversary (as defined in 15 C.F.R. § 7.2), including the Blockchain-based Services Network, Spartan Network, Conflux Network, iFinex Inc., or Red Date Technology Co., Ltd., or subsidiaries thereof—as (1) a substantial or essential component or (2) critical technology, effective two years after enactment. It further prohibits obligating or expending Department of Defense (DOD) loan or grant funds for such purposes and requires the Secretary, when administering relevant programs, to prioritize funding and technical support to help affected entities cease use, acquire replacements, and sustain service. The section includes a rule of construction clarifying that the prohibitions do not apply to (1) services connecting to third-party facilities such as blockchain protocols or (2) wireless telecommunications equipment or third-party validators unable to route, redirect, or provide visibility into user data. It authorizes the Secretary to waive the acquisition prohibition for up to two years per entity upon a compelling justification, a detailed supply chain description, and phase-out plan submitted to the congressional Armed Services Committees within 30 days; heads of intelligence community elements may also waive for national security reasons. The section defines executive agency by reference to 41 U.S.C. § 133 and intelligence community by reference to 50 U.S.C. § 3003.

This section eliminates the reporting requirement under subsection (c) of Section 842 of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Pub. L. 118-159). (Thus, the Department of Defense is no longer required to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than 180 days after enactment of that Act, a report setting forth a plan to ensure compliance with domestic sourcing requirements for stainless steel flatware and dinnerware used in covered U.S.-based military dining facilities and an assessment of the availability of such domestically produced items.)

This section revises rules governing the Department of Defense Public-Private Talent Exchange program (10 U.S.C. 1599g(f)), which facilitates temporary exchanges of personnel between DoD and private-sector entities, by (1) striking the reference to 18 U.S.C. 207 (post-employment restrictions on representation) from a list of inapplicable ethics provisions, (2) authorizing exchanged employees to perform inherently governmental functions upon written direction from the Secretary of Defense, and (3) deeming such employees Department of Defense employees for purposes of 18 U.S.C. 207. (Thus, those employees become subject to federal post-government employment restrictions on communications and appearances intended to influence agency action.)

This section modifies assignment requirements under 10 U.S.C. §1734 for personnel in critical acquisition positions (i.e., key Department of Defense roles requiring specialized acquisition expertise to manage major defense programs), as follows: (1) establishes a six-year minimum assignment period (from three years) and requires a written six-year service agreement for program executive officers (PEOs), who oversee portfolios of major acquisition programs, with redesignation of the deputy program manager waiver as paragraph (4); (2) directs the Secretary of Defense to require a six-year PEO assignment period in regulations and directs the Under Secretaries of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and for Acquisition and Sustainment to ensure it does not impede promotions or advancement to higher responsibility; and (3) makes conforming changes to waiver authorities and exceptions for PEOs.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to establish, not later than 180 days after enactment, a working group within the Defense Industrial Resilience Consortium to identify opportunities to address workforce shortages in advanced manufacturing career fields in the defense industrial base (i.e., private and public entities producing defense materiel, including the Department of Defense organic industrial base). The working group, composed of interested consortium members, must (1) identify estimated shortages in such career fields; (2) identify required skills and abilities for those fields; and (3) develop recommendations for training, education, and career development programs (e.g., apprenticeships, internships, summer camps); public-private partnerships with incentives for recruiting, training, and retaining workers; and policy changes to increase participation in the defense advanced manufacturing workforce. Not later than one year after enactment, the Secretary must submit to Congress a report on the working group's recommendations and whether to continue or terminate the group. The section defines advanced manufacturing as the manufacturing of products or the application of advanced technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, 3D printing, cyber-physical systems).

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to ensure that eligibility for an acquisition leadership position—defined as a critical acquisition position (under 10 U.S.C. §1721(a)) in a Department of Defense acquisition program, at or above grade O-5 (or equivalent)—associated with a joint research and development activity or joint acquisition program is not limited by an individual's affiliation with a specific Armed Force or civilian/military status. A rule of construction clarifies that this requirement does not impair any DoD component's authority to consider service, agency, or organizational representation levels in making appointments.

This section requires the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, in collaboration with the Secretaries of the military departments, to identify within 180 days of enactment existing Department of Defense career and developmental programs that recruit and develop highly qualified individuals, including members and graduates of the Defense Civilian Training Corps, into the acquisition workforce (i.e., positions designated under 10 USC 1721(a)). The section authorizes the Under Secretary to appoint such individuals to acquisition positions using those programs and, if necessary, to establish a new program within 180 days for one-year appointments (renewable once) in the competitive service without regard to specified competitive hiring procedures (5 USC 3309-3318, 3327, 3330), with noncompetitive conversion eligibility for subsequent positions if conditions are met; basic pay for these appointees is payable from the Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Account (10 USC 1705) for up to one year. (As background, the Account funds recruitment, training, and retention of DoD acquisition personnel to ensure mission capacity and contractor oversight.) The section further requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to specified congressional committees within 180 days describing the identified and new programs, funding estimates through FY2030, and related policy recommendations.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to revise part 242.15 of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) and the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) to establish an objective, fact-based system for reporting contractor performance that focuses exclusively on verified negative performance events with material impact. The revisions (1) eliminate subjective performance ratings and require reporting only such events within 30 days, categorized into five areas (failures related to innovation or prototype delivery; manufacturing, quality control, or product delivery; maintenance, logistics, or support services; professional, administrative, or operational services; and software, hardware, cybersecurity, or IT systems); (2) eliminate requirements for annual or periodic evaluations absent verified negative events; (3) mandate reporting of nine specified negative events (e.g., delivery failures verified by inspection, inaccurate cost data identified by audit, false claims, cybersecurity breaches due to negligence); (4) establish a standardized scoring mechanism normalizing events by number of transactions and contract dollar values, with automatic composite scores in CPARS for use in source selections to assess risk—where absence of negative events (including for nontraditional defense contractors or new entrants) is not a deficiency and such offerors are evaluated on technical capability, price, and other factors; and (5) provide contractor access to scores and data for rebuttals, plus training for contracting officers. (Thus, the changes reduce administrative burden, subjectivity, and barriers for entities lacking extensive DoD past performance records while enabling the government to avoid high-risk contractors.)

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to implement, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment, mandatory key performance indicators (KPIs) for evaluating members of the acquisition workforce (as defined in 10 U.S.C. 101) based on alignment with Department of Defense strategic priorities, including (1) use of commercial acquisition methods such as fixed-price contracts with commercial terms; (2) use of innovative acquisition authorities; (3) preference for commercial solutions; (4) integration of small business concerns and nontraditional defense contractors (i.e., entities not performing Department of Defense contracts subject to full cost accounting standards for at least the prior year) into the defense industrial base; (5) cost and schedule efficiencies; (6) milestone-based modular open systems approaches and capabilities-based pricing; and (7) authorities under 10 U.S.C. chapter 253 and similar streamlining tools. The section requires integration of the KPIs into annual performance appraisals, promotion and bonus considerations, assignment decisions, and certification, training, and continuing education requirements under 10 U.S.C. chapter 87 for the acquisition workforce. It further requires the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to submit semiannual reports to the congressional defense committees, beginning not later than 365 days after enactment, on KPI implementation progress, compliance by Department elements, barriers, and legislative recommendations. The section defines "commercial solutions" (i.e., procurements under specified Federal Acquisition Regulation parts or privately funded solutions meeting Department needs) and "innovative acquisition authorities" (e.g., authorities under 10 U.S.C. §§ 4021, 4022, and 3458) and states the sense of Congress supporting a risk-tolerant acquisition culture to leverage commercial technology and expand the industrial base.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, for each of FY2026 through 2029, to audit Department of Defense contractors' compliance with the 7% utilization goal for employing qualified individuals with disabilities, as established by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs under section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 793). The section further requires the Secretary to submit a report on each audit's findings to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees not later than five months after the end of the audited fiscal year.

This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States to review Defense Department education, training, and career development programs for the acquisition workforce (i.e., DoD civilian and military personnel involved in procuring weapons systems and services); assess compliance with, and the efficacy of, career development policies and minimum assignment periods (generally three years; at least four years for major program managers, tied to milestones) under 10 U.S.C. §1734; and evaluate related matters including workforce capabilities, knowledge enhancement, career progression competitiveness, retention rates in critical acquisition positions (particularly key leadership positions), and benefits of four-year minimum assignments such as improved accountability. The Comptroller General must submit a report to the congressional defense committees by July 1, 2026, with recommendations on improvements to such programs and minimum assignment periods for program executive officers.

This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States to review the management, training, and development of the Department of Defense acquisition workforce (as defined in 10 U.S.C. §101(a)) to assess its ability to deliver capabilities to the Armed Forces effectively, address evolving threats, and maintain U.S. military advantage cost-effectively. The review must evaluate (1) current organization and staffing, including total positions disaggregated by required skills and experience, vacancies, and skill mismatches; (2) sufficiency of recruiting, retention processes, and authorities; (3) hiring and retention trends over the preceding five years; and (4) impediments to training, such as funding shortages, unavailability of training, and workload demands. The Comptroller General must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the congressional defense committees by April 1, 2026.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Director of the Acquisition Innovation Research Center, to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the Defense Acquisition University (DAU)—which trains and develops the Department of Defense acquisition workforce (as defined in 10 U.S.C. §101)—to strengthen its ability to meet future DoD needs. The assessment must evaluate (1) DAU's mission alignment with defense acquisition system objectives under 10 U.S.C. §3102; (2) the effectiveness of DAU's training for the acquisition workforce; and (3) DAU's organization and structure, curriculum, staff and faculty composition (including diversity of skills and backgrounds), resource and funding mechanisms, and use of external experts and academic institutions. The Director must provide recommendations to the Secretary based on the assessment, and not later than one year after enactment, the Secretary must submit to the congressional defense committees a report containing the assessment findings, recommendations, and any necessary actions to align DAU's training with acquisition system objectives.

This section repeals the exception to the Berry Amendment for small purchases—previously allowing non-domestic procurement of covered items (i.e., food, clothing and textiles, tents and covers, hand or measuring tools, and U.S. flags) below a specified threshold—by limiting exceptions in subsection (a) to subsections (c) through (g) (from (c) through (h)). (Thus, the domestic sourcing requirement applies to all DoD procurements of such items unless another exception applies.) The section also establishes a Secretary of Defense oversight committee to monitor implementation of and ensure compliance with the Berry Amendment.

This section amends Section 849 of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (10 U.S.C. 3241 note prec.) as follows: (1) revises subsection (a) to require Department of Defense (DOD) contractors to implement and use supply chain illumination (i.e., policies, procedures, and tools to assess and monitor supply chains for vulnerabilities and risks) meeting minimum qualifying criteria established by the Secretary of Defense, rather than merely assess and monitor supply chains; (2) requires the Secretary to establish and publish those criteria in the Federal Register by April 1, 2026; (3) authorizes contracting officers to continue accepting and paying for covered end items (i.e., those prohibited under specified statutes due to nonconforming items such as certain restricted materials) if the contractor has qualifying supply chain illumination, discloses the item, and the contracting officer determines it meets contract requirements and poses no security or safety risk (thus enabling expedited processing pending waivers); (4) requires contractors to immediately pursue corrective actions, including qualifying alternative suppliers, upon identifying nonconforming items in covered end items; and (5) defines terms including covered statute (e.g., 10 U.S.C. 4863, 4872), covered end item, end item, nonconforming item, and supply chain illumination. This section also requires the Secretary to submit annual reports to the congressional defense committees for five years, beginning one year after enactment, describing each use of the expedited acceptance authority.

This section revises the definition of "major defense acquisition program" in Section 835(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118-31), which imposes enhanced domestic content requirements on such programs. The revised definition adopts the meaning given the term in 10 U.S.C. §4201(a)—a Department of Defense acquisition program (other than certain highly sensitive classified programs) designated as such by the Secretary of Defense or estimated to require eventual research, development, test, and evaluation expenditures exceeding $300 million (FY1990 constant dollars) or procurement expenditures exceeding $1.8 billion (FY1990 constant dollars)—and expressly includes any program meeting that definition as in effect on January 1, 2025.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a strategy to eliminate Department of Defense reliance on covered nations (i.e., North Korea, China, Russia, Belarus, and Iran) for optical glass (i.e., glass used in optical lenses, prisms, or mirrors) or optical systems (i.e., arrangements of optical components that manipulate light) by January 1, 2030. The strategy must (1) identify current DoD requirements for such items and projected requirements through 2040; (2) identify current sources, including any from covered nations; and (3) identify actions to ensure the defense industrial base meets DoD needs without covered-nation reliance by that date. The Secretary must begin implementation within 270 days of enactment, provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees within 180 days of enactment (including any required funding or policy changes), and submit an interim implementation progress report by March 15, 2027 (including implementation risks).

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to establish and maintain a publicly available online repository for voluntary registrations and attestations by offerors of covered products' compliance with covered sourcing requirements (i.e., various Buy American Act, specialty metals, and related domestic content restrictions applicable to Department of Defense procurements, such as 10 U.S.C. §§ 4862-4864, 4872). Not later than 180 days after enactment, the Secretary must create an online registration process requiring a unique product identifier, national stock number (if available) or product description, and supporting documentation; acknowledgments of False Claims Act liability for false attestations; issuance of proofs of registration usable in marketing or by prime contractors; public availability of compliance information; and resources for procurement technical assistance centers to train and assist offerors. The section further requires policies to incentivize registration and disclosures of noncompliance (with remediation assistance and referrals to defense industrial base programs) and encourages use of supply chain illumination tools.

This section establishes a working group within the Defense Industrial Resilience Consortium, not later than 180 days after enactment, to exchange information on compliant specialty metals (i.e., those melted or produced in the United States, as required under the specialty metals restrictions of 10 U.S.C. §4863), accelerate their qualification for DoD use, and integrate them into defense supply chains. (1) The working group consists of consortium members with relevant expertise, excluding those posing national security risks (e.g., linked to covered nations); (2) it must develop processes to streamline qualification, share data across DoD elements, publish quarterly lists of compliant sources, reduce unnecessary service-specific requirements, and provide related recommendations to the Secretary of Defense. This section further directs the Secretary of Defense, not later than 180 days after enactment, to issue guidance requiring identification and rapid replacement of noncompliant specialty metals in covered DoD systems, including supply chain management, use of the working group's compliant source list, commercial qualification processes, minimized testing, and waivers of defense-unique requirements. The guidance prohibits additional end-item testing after replacement with substantially similar compliant materials unless determined otherwise by a service acquisition executive. (Thus, acquisitions of listed compliant specialty metals are deemed to satisfy subchapter III of chapter 385 of title 10, U.S. Code.)

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, not later than 90 days after the date of enactment, to require contractors for procurements of fifth-generation wireless technology for private networks on military installations (as defined in 10 U.S.C. §2801(c)(4)) to provide (1) a hardware bill of materials and (2) a description of zero trust principles implementation and operational use, to promote enhanced wireless network security requirements including supply chain risk management. The section further requires the Secretary to prioritize such procurements using Open-RAN approaches (as defined in sec. 9202 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021), including cloud-native capabilities.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, not later than 180 days after enactment, to revise the Department of Defense Supplement to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (DFARS) to require—to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with national security—preference in procurement of professional services (i.e., engineering, architecture, design, environmental and financial consulting, program management, legal advisory, and other expert services) from United States companies (i.e., entities organized under U.S. laws with principal place of business in the United States and not foreign-owned or controlled). The revision must also authorize the Secretary to waive this preference if it would cause the Department to fail to meet an urgent operational requirement or if no U.S. company or qualifying joint venture (i.e., one in which a U.S. company holds greater than 50% ownership) can fulfill the contract in a timely or cost-effective manner; such waivers require written justification submitted to the congressional defense committees within 30 days.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress, not later than 180 days after enactment, (1) a national security assessment of U.S. reliance on covered nations (as defined in 10 U.S.C. 4872, generally including China) for standard and specialty shipping containers, including DoD acquisition alternatives, domestic barriers and mitigation recommendations, and a transition timeline; and (2) a report assessing the feasibility, private-sector collaboration, and supply chain benefits of embedding communications equipment and sensors (e.g., for satellite-based real-time tracking of location and contents) into DoD shipping containers. This section further directs the Secretary to (1) quantify DoD annual demand for eight standard shipping container types (including bill of materials and model verification) and assess specialty container needs by weapons system; (2) develop, not later than December 31, 2028, a requirement for a primary domestic production facility for standard containers at a U.S. Army depot with a consolidated shipping center and organic industrial base status, pursuing a public-private partnership; (3) evaluate, by the same date, U.S. locations for a secondary facility; and (4) develop, not later than 180 days after enactment and in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, initiatives to incentivize commercial production of shipping containers for defense and civilian use.

This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States to assess vulnerabilities in supply chains of critical defense minerals for the defense industrial base. Not later than 365 days after enactment, the Comptroller General must submit a report to the Armed Services Committees of the House of Representatives and Senate that (1) identifies sources of each such mineral, (2) evaluates barriers to expanding domestic mining and production capacity, and (3) provides recommendations for Congress and federal agencies to incentivize domestic production. The term “critical defense mineral” means a mineral essential to national defense manufacturing, including rare earth elements, lithium, cobalt, and nickel.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to assess vulnerabilities in supply chains for Department of Defense medical supplies and equipment, including detailed evaluation of reliance on sources in China for active pharmaceutical ingredients (as defined in 21 U.S.C. 379j–41) and medical devices (as defined in 21 U.S.C. 321(h)). The Secretary must submit a report on the assessment's findings to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees not later than 180 days after enactment.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to establish, by September 30, 2026, a pilot program to validate sources of rare earth elements and critical materials (i.e., non-rare earth materials necessary for Department of Defense permanent magnets, as identified by the Secretary) used in permanent magnets procured by the department—including recycled sources—to ensure the accuracy of contractor-reported information and supply chain integrity against foreign adversaries. The pilot program sunsets on September 30, 2029, after which the Secretary must submit a report to Congress within 180 days containing the results and recommendations on whether to continue or expand the program.

This section eliminates all exceptions under the Berry Amendment for Department of Defense procurements of fish, shellfish, or seafood products. (As background, the Berry Amendment requires such procurements—including food under 10 U.S.C. §4862(b)(1)(A)—to be grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in the United States, subject to exceptions for insufficient domestic availability or certain operations (e.g., combat support, emergencies); this provision removes those exceptions for seafood. Thus, all such procurements must be domestic without waiver.)

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, not later than 270 days after enactment, to develop and maintain a classified prioritized list of high-risk critical infrastructure owned by the Department of Defense (DoD) that relies on materials or components originating from a foreign country of concern (i.e., China, North Korea, Russia, Iran, or any other designated by the Secretary of State) and to conduct a risk assessment of such materials and components. The risk assessment must evaluate (1) DoD critical infrastructure dependence on such materials or components; (2) vulnerability to supply chain disruptions during national emergencies, including for industrial control systems; (3) resilience and capacity to support mission-critical operations and readiness; (4) locations of relevant design, manufacturing, and packaging facilities; and (5) U.S. manufacturing capacity to replace them, including domestic gaps (e.g., nonexistent or single-point-of-failure capabilities), supply chain resiliency issues, and economic threats from global competition. Not later than 120 days after completing the assessment, and biennially thereafter, the Secretary must provide the congressional defense committees a classified briefing on (1) findings regarding traceability and provenance of listed materials or components; (2) strategies to strengthen DoD critical infrastructure resilience and readiness; and (3) recommendations for supply chain resilience and manufacturing, including procurement policy modifications to reduce high-risk supply chain reliance.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a strategy to eliminate Department of Defense reliance on covered nations (i.e., North Korea, China, Russia, Belarus, and Iran) for acquiring computer displays (i.e., devices that receive digital output from a computer and visually display it as an electronic image) by January 1, 2030. The strategy must (1) identify current DoD requirements for computer displays and projected requirements through 2040, (2) identify sources of such displays including any from covered nations, and (3) identify actions to ensure the defense industrial base meets DoD needs without reliance on covered nations by that date. The Secretary must begin implementation not later than 270 days after enactment; provide congressional defense committees a briefing on the strategy—including any required funding or policy changes—not later than 180 days after enactment; and submit an interim report on implementation progress and risks by March 15, 2027.

This section directs the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Resilience, in coordination with the Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Energy, and Director of the United States Geological Survey, to submit to the House Committees on Armed Services and Natural Resources, not later than one year after enactment, a report assessing the feasibility of reshoring domestic critical and rare earth mineral mining and production. The report must include (1) an identification of strategic and critical materials used by the Department of Defense; (2) an assessment of the reliability of domestic supply chains for critical and rare earth minerals and reliance on sources in the People's Republic of China or subject to its or the Chinese Communist Party's control; (3) an identification of domestic and international sources for such materials; (4) an identification of domestic locations with verified large supplies of such materials and existing commercial manufacturing interest; (5) a strategy to reshore critical and rare earth mineral production to the United States; and (6) an implementation plan for that strategy, including a timeline. In this section, strategic and critical materials has the meaning given in section 12 of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (materials needed for U.S. military, industrial, and essential civilian needs during a national emergency but not found or produced domestically in sufficient quantities).

This section prohibits the Secretary of Defense from renewing, extending, or entering into long-term concessions agreements with retailers controlled by a covered nation (as defined in 10 USC 4872)—including those organized under its laws, with 20% or more ownership by the nation, or subject to its control—to operate physical locations on covered military installations (i.e., U.S.-based installations as defined in 10 USC 2801), with the prohibition applying to agreements entered into on or after enactment. The section authorizes a waiver if (1) the retailer's goods or services are vital for Armed Forces welfare and morale with no alternatives; (2) adequate risk mitigation measures are implemented; and (3) the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) determines no unresolved national security concerns under 50 USC 4565; requires a report to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees within 30 days of each waiver; and authorizes termination of agreements for ownership misrepresentations. For covered retailers (i.e., those with pre-enactment agreements), the section (1) requires notice to CFIUS within 30 days detailing relationships with covered nations, with operations prohibited pending CFIUS approval or disapproval within 180 days following investigation; (2) mandates annual disclosures of ownership changes; and (3) requires DOD termination for noncompliance. Additionally, the section directs the Secretary to assess all pre-enactment long-term concessions agreements with covered retailers within 180 days for covered nation control and terminate any such agreements within 30 days of such a determination.

This section establishes a requirement that each Department of Defense contract entered into on or after the date of enactment, including subcontracts at any tier, include a provision requiring contractors to comply with federal laws prohibiting segregated facilities, including Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

This section establishes in new 10 U.S.C. §4666 a requirement that prohibits an agency from entering into a contract for the procurement of reparable goods or repair services in support of major weapon systems unless the contractor agrees in writing to provide the Department of Defense (DoD) with fair and reasonable access to all repair materials—including parts, tools, and information—used by the manufacturer, provider, or their authorized repair providers to diagnose, analyze, maintain, or repair such goods or services. The Secretary of Defense (SecDef), or the head of the procuring agency with delegated authority, may waive this requirement for a particular contract or class of contracts upon a written determination that it would negatively impact cost, schedule, or technical performance; the section does not authorize disclosure of intellectual property, commercially confidential information, or trade secrets and requires SecDef to protect such information as provided by law. "Fair and reasonable access" is defined to include, as applicable, (1) prices, terms, and conditions allowing DoD to provide materials to authorized contractors consistent with 10 U.S.C. §3771 (governing rights in technical data) and DoD's product support strategy; (2) terms equivalent to the most favorable offered to authorized repair providers; (3) otherwise fair and reasonable terms determined by the government with dispute resolution under 41 U.S.C. ch. 71 if not offered to any providers; and (4) a fair and reasonable licensing fee if the government did not fund development of the relevant intellectual property. This section also requires the Comptroller General to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than one year after enactment, a report on implementation of the new requirements. This section specifies that it does not alter the core logistics capability or depot-level maintenance requirements of 10 U.S.C. §§2464 and 2466.

This section establishes, in new 10 U.S.C. §4865, a prohibition—effective January 1, 2027, and applicable only to contracts entered into after enactment—on the Department of Defense acquiring advanced batteries (as defined in 42 U.S.C. §18741(a)) for use at DOD installations or in DOD systems, or acquiring any equipment, system, or service that uses such batteries (or covered battery equipment/services) as a substantial/essential component or critical technology, unless (1) more than 95% of the electrode active material in each battery cell is sourced outside the ownership, control, or jurisdiction of a foreign entity of concern (as defined in 42 U.S.C. §18741(a)); (2) the battery is not one described in section 154(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (P.L. 118-31); and (3) battery cells are manufactured without technology licensed from a foreign entity of concern (or affiliate) under agreements limiting use duration or requiring ownership, partnership, or technology transfer. The prohibition includes exceptions for (1) waivers by a Secretary of a military department—determining national security necessity and requiring a phase-out strategy, with contents specifying reasons, affected systems, duration, and timeline, and delegable only to specified acquisition officials; (2) advanced batteries in personal electronics (e.g., cell phones, laptops) for office/administrative use; and (3) batteries for DOD testing/evaluation programs of record beginning before January 1, 2027. (Thus, the provision aims to secure DOD supply chains for advanced batteries critical to military energy storage and systems against reliance on adversarial foreign sources.)

This section adds molybdenum to the list of items that the Department of Defense is prohibited from acquiring from non-allied foreign nations (i.e., China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea). (Thus, the prohibition applies only to contracts and other agreements entered into after the date of enactment.)

This section establishes a requirement for the Department of Defense (DOD) to procure disposable food service products (i.e., single-use items for serving or transporting ready-to-consume food or beverages, excluding plastic food wrappers/packaging and operational rations such as meals ready-to-eat) only if they are American-made (i.e., manufactured in the United States by a U.S.-incorporated and headquartered entity using substantially all U.S.-produced articles, materials, or supplies), contain no added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and improve operational readiness (as defined in 10 U.S.C. §4322). The Secretary of Defense may waive the requirement if determined to be in the national security interest, with written justification provided to the congressional defense committees; such waiver authority is non-delegable below the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. This section further directs DOD to revise the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement within 90 days of enactment to implement the requirement.

This section revises the prohibition on Department of Defense contracts with online tutoring services owned by entities from the People's Republic of China to instead prohibit contracts with services owned by entities from a country of concern (i.e., China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea). The section also designates the prohibition as subsection (a) and adds subsection (b) to define country of concern.

This section expands Department of Defense (DOD) prohibitions on procurement and funding related to certain Chinese entities. Specifically, with respect to section 805 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 (prohibiting obligation or expenditure of FY2024 funds for goods or services from Chinese military companies operating in the United States), it (1) prohibits use of loan or grant funds for such procurements (applicable to funds obligated or expended on or after enactment); (2) expands covered entities to include any entity certified by the Secretary of Defense for national security reasons; (3) requires annual reports to the congressional defense committees on waivers granted, including justifications; and (4) directs the Secretary to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement within one year to implement the prohibitions. The section further directs the Secretary, not later than 180 days after enactment, to add biotechnology entities (including subsidiaries, parents, affiliates, or successors) engaged in DNA and RNA assembly, synthesis, and manufacturing (i.e., chemical or biological production of RNA/DNA molecules for medical research, synthetic biology, gene therapy, and vaccine development) to the DOD list of Chinese military companies under section 1260H(b) of the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2021. Finally, this section adds Amperex Technology Limited (also known as ATL) to the list of prohibited battery suppliers under subsection (b) of section 154 of the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2024 (prohibiting availability of FY2024 funds for procurement of lithium-ion batteries produced by certain Chinese entities) and updates related cross-references.

This section prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act for Department of Defense (DoD) acquisitions of photovoltaic modules or photovoltaic cells manufactured by a foreign entity of concern, as defined in section 9901 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (15 U.S.C. 4651). The Secretary of Defense may waive the prohibition for a given acquisition upon determining that compliant modules or cells are unavailable in sufficient quantity and satisfactory quality at U.S. market prices, pose no national security risk, and after submitting a certification to the appropriate congressional committees at least 30 days prior to contract award. The prohibition applies only to direct DoD contracts or agreements without third-party financing arrangements (e.g., energy savings contracts or privatized military housing). The section defines a photovoltaic cell as the smallest semiconductor element that converts light into electricity and a photovoltaic module as an end item (per 10 U.S.C. 4863) comprised of connected photovoltaic cells in a protected assembly suitable for generating electricity from sunlight.

This section prohibits the Secretary of Defense from acquiring any computer or printer if the manufacturer, bidder, or offeror is a covered Chinese entity (i.e., an entity owned, controlled, directed, or subcontracted by, affiliated with, or otherwise connected to the government of the People's Republic of China, as determined by the Secretary in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence or the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation). The prohibition applies to contracts or other agreements entered into, renewed, or extended after enactment of this Act. It defines relevant terms, including (1) computer (i.e., high-speed data processing device excluding automated typewriters, portable calculators, or similar devices); (2) manufacturer (i.e., final assembler, certain subcontractors, directing entities, or related affiliates); and (3) printer (i.e., desktop, multifunction, or floor-standing devices using various print technologies, excluding point-of-sale receipt printers, label makers, or embedded non-standalone printers).

This section prohibits the Secretary of Defense from entering into contracts with any person engaged in a politically motivated boycott of Israel (i.e., an activity intended to penalize or otherwise limit significant commercial relations specifically with Israel or persons doing business in Israel or Israeli-controlled territories).

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to ensure that the principal office of the prime contractor for an eligible contract relating to the procurement of telecommunications for the Department of Defense is located in the United States. An eligible contract is an indefinite delivery-indefinite quantity task order contract or delivery order contract that (1) is in an amount greater than the simplified acquisition threshold ($250,000, or $500,000 for any contract to be awarded and performed, or purchase to be made, outside the United States in support of a contingency operation or a humanitarian or peacekeeping operation); and (2) is for a commercial product or commercial service. The term “telecommunications” has the meaning given that term in section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to the House Armed Services Committee, not later than 180 days after enactment, a report on the Department of Defense's progress implementing amendments to the prohibition on acquiring covered materials (10 U.S.C. 4872)—made by section 844 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283) and effective January 1, 2027. The report must include (1) for each major defense acquisition program (as defined in 10 U.S.C. 4201), a detailed explanation of the program's progress in meeting the amended prohibition; and (2) an explanation of the Department's use of Defense Production Act funds (50 U.S.C. 4501 et seq.) for each phase of covered materials production, from mining through final production.

This section prohibits the Department of Defense, effective June 30, 2027, from entering into, renewing, or extending contracts for organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display technologies fabricated in a foreign adversary (as defined in 10 U.S.C. 4872(f)), by a foreign adversary entity, or by a covered OLED display technologies company—or for goods or services that include such technologies. The Secretary of Defense may waive the prohibition if compliant OLED display technologies are unavailable in required quality and quantity and must report waivers to Congress by February 15 of the following calendar year, including a description of the product or service and the rationale for each waiver.